KC GIFT fighting systemic racism by investing in black-owned businesses

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City-based nonprofit is fighting against systemic racism by bridging the gap for black-owned businesses. The nonprofit KC GIFT has awarded $1.7 million in grants to 73 black-owned businesses.

“We are going to continue to do the work and our goal is to make sure that we can continue to be a resource. Collaboration is powerful and we have strong networks of business owners in this city but we want to continue to foster that environment,” said KC GIFT chief program officer Caris Harrington, “Whatever it takes to grow a strong black economic ecosystem, we want to have a part in that,”

GIFT stands for Generating Income for Tomorrow. The business center is located in Kansas City’s urban corridor on 50th and Prospect which is where they’ve identified a great need. They say due to discriminatory redlining practices in the 1920s and 1930s on Troost Avenue, many black-owned businesses there still face economic disadvantages. It stems from black-owned businesses formerly being rejected for small business loans.

Also Read: Crossroads Community Association inches closer to creating CID for a safer district

“We understood what the struggles of our business community faced, and we tried to slide right in and make sure that we can help them and our goal is to make sure that then after a year of having the experience of Gift and all of our resources and support, that they can become bankable on their own,” said Harrington.

They recently awarded two $25,000 grants to black-owned businesses KC Wing Bar and Urban Restaurant. Behind every greeting at a small black-owned business is a story.

“Going back to opening during the pandemic, when other businesses were receiving resources to stay in business, we weren’t able to receive those resources,” said owner of Gigi’s Vegan and Wellness Cafe Gigi Jones.

The cafe is known for its organic food and smoothies. Jones said it’s the support of her customers that kept her doors open at a time when others were closing.

“We’re still here five years later. We’re grateful for that. Our doors are still open. The word is getting out about Gigi’s and what we do here,” she said.

Because of the shop’s location on Westport Road, she says this deems it ineligible for some business grant awards. With limited outside resources available, she has networked with other black-owned businesses that support each other through social media, shopping, and referrals.

“Speaking to other black-owned businesses, we are really bringing our resources together and tight-knitting and supporting one another and that’s what it’s all about,” she said.

Read More: Residents hope for more investment with project connecting cities across Missouri, Kansas state lines

Darrell Johnson is the owner of interior designing business Discover Your Design and a previous KC GIFT grant recipient. He said the funds helped to nourish the business and its growth.

“We’ve been very intentional about not taking out personal loans and things like that, and only relying on grants and our own funding so that’s really helped us quite a bit,” said Johnson.

More information about Kansas City GIFT and its mission can be found on its website.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.