The Sixers Are Accepting Applicants For Their “Buy Black” Program Aimed at Helping Black Owned Businesses!
The Sixers Are Accepting Applicants For Their “Buy Black” Program Aimed at Helping Black Owned Businesses!
In the Philadelphia region, Black owned businesses average less than a third of the annual sales of white-owned businesses. Between February and April 2020, 41-percent of Black owned businesses shut down compared to 17-percent of white-owned businesses. These are just a few stats posted by the Sixers Buy Black program’s web page. The program is aimed to help Black owned business in Philly by providing them with resources, advertising, consultation and marketing tools.
76ers Chief Diversity and Impact Officer David Gould is spearheading the program and has highlighted how discriminatory practices and policies have hindered Black businesses from thriving. “Black businesses and entrepreneurs have been some of the greatest contributors to the innovative, economic and cultural vibrancy of America. However, dating back to the beginning of our country, discriminatory policies and social practices have forced Black businesses to compete on an uneven playing field, which has contributed to the disparities we see today,” the program states.
Some of these polices were specifically named such as banks not lending to Black citizens, blocked government assistance and limited customers due to discrimination.
In response the 76ers created the Buy Black program as a first step and solution to a growing problem. This immersive program has been developed to promote and market a select few Black-owned businesses that were founded in the communities in which we live, work, play and win.
With access to HBSE’s expansive reach through 76ers channels and exposure to expert marketing consultation and use of marketing assets typically reserved for larger corporate partners, the selected businesses will receive customized marketing plans that will be executed by the 76ers to grow, and sustain the success of their business.
To qualify applicants must:
- At least 51% of the business must be Black-owned
- Must be founded in and/or operating in local markets
- Must be an independent, non-franchised business
- Must be formally incorporated
The Sixers stress that this program is not:
- A cash investment or an opportunity for financial investment of any form
- An incubator or accelerator program
- A business development program
- A multiyear partnership
Applications are being accepted now through Feb. 2nd. Qualified applicants can click here to apply.
