Sudbury, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor
Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, today announced that the Government of Canada is investing $389,197 in the Afro-Heritage Association of Sudbury (AHA) to support the continued delivery of the Northern Ontario Black Economic Empowerment Program (NOBEEP). The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor.
Using a business-first approach, NOBEEP is designed to address systemic racism and discrimination by creating greater pathways to opportunity. The program will gather, develop and deliver culturally appropriate support to Black entrepreneurs and business owners to address the gaps in the region's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Specifically, the funding will allow the AHA to coordinate workshops, training seminars and trade shows, provide mentorship and consulting services, and support various events and activities that showcase Black talent, excellence, success and businesses.
Provided through FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program, this strategic investment will help create 20 business start-ups and support the expansion and modernization of 15 more. It will also allow the AHA to host 25 events and engage in outreach activities through a series of events and roadshows. Since its inception under the Black Entrepreneurship Program in 2022, NOBEEP has helped over 120 businesses start-up, scale-up or modernize their operations. It has also created 4 full-time jobs and helped 29 partners participate in roadshows, while allowing AHA to host 37 events that reached close to 3,500 people within its target audience.
Identified as a strategic priority in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada aims to provide an additional $189 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, for the Black Entrepreneurship Program to help Black entrepreneurs and business owners across Canada thrive. In Northern Ontario, FedNor will administer the program.
