The Atlanta Hawks and Chase recently announced a partnership dedicated to assisting diverse small business owners in Atlanta.
Five first-generation entrepreneurs attended workshops on Saturday that focused on financial health to help grow their businesses.
“They’re not just investing in us from an information standpoint, but actually kind of putting their money where their mouth is and investing in us financially as well,” said Shaina Wiel, the founder of Minorities in Sports Business and one of the business owners whom program officials surprised with five thousand dollars.
According to Urban Institute, disproportionate lending practices have eroded trust in banks by underserved communities.
Also in attendance was Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela, who participated with the entrepreneurs in a fireside chat.
“In Atlanta, I really feel that the support and the belief behind all those entrepreneurs that [is] really trying to do something like for the city and future generations,” he said.
Outside of Saturday’s event, program officials, such as Mathilda Lambert, community manager with JP Morgan Chase, say they expect to support more businesses throughout the partnership.
“We are continuing to plug [the program participants] into the programming that we have,” she said. “And with our partnership with the Atlanta Hawks, we have a shared vision.”
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