Progressive Insurance ®, the leading commercial auto insurer in the United States, has announced the 10 recipients of its 2023 Driving Small Business Forward grant with Hello Alice in support of Black entrepreneurs. Each small business owner has been awarded a $25,000 grant for use toward the purchase of a commercial vehicle for their business.
While 20 percent of Black Americans start businesses, only 4 percent of Black American businesses survive the start-up stage, as they disproportionately struggle with debt and raising capital in addition to challenges such as a lack of helpful relationships in the business community, according to McKinsey & Company. Progressive is stepping in to provide funding to Black entrepreneurs to help navigate their small business journey.
“At Progressive, we celebrate all business owners, yet we understand Black business owners still face unique challenges,” said Karen Bailo, Commercial Lines President at Progressive Insurance. “For the last two years, the Driving Small Business Forward grant program is one of the ways we’ve been supporting entrepreneurs on their small business journey, and we look forward to seeing how this grant helps these deserving recipients continue their work serving the community.”
The full list of recipients for the Progressive 2023 Driving Small Business Forward grant program includes:
- Derald Gray, owner of DG Visionaries in Indianapolis, IN
- Elizabeth Abunaw, owner of Forty Acres Fresh Market in Chicago, IL
- Theodore Smith, owner of Golfing for Excellence in Washington, D.C
- Muna Mohamed, owner of Kalsoni in Minneapolis, MN
- Shenicia Barnes, owner of Kidz on Wheelz LLC in Mansfield, TX
- Sean Morrison, owner of Lets Ryde NC in Raleigh, NC
- Carmel Mims, owner of Pet Porter Pals in Pasadena, CA
- Robert Randolph, owner of Rob Ran Creative Services in Milwaukee, WI
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