Black Beauty Shops Focus of Program

The nonprofit organization Local Initiatives Support Corp. Los Angeles announced late last month it is launching the Black Business Excellence Technical Assistance Initiative, or BBET, to support Black-owned personal care businesses in L.A. County.Partnering with Pacific Premiere Bank, which has a branch in Encino, and the James Irvine Foundation in Los Angeles, the BBET program will select annual cohorts of Black-owned beauty, health and wellness businesses to support with one-on-one business advising, networking opportunities and business education. Thirty businesses will be accepted for the first round.“We are proud to launch the BBET Initiative to support Black-owned small businesses and achieve our broader goals by providing economic opportunities for diverse communities,” Local Initiatives Support Corp. L.A. Executive Director Tunua Thrash-Ntuk said in a statement. “Black-owned personal care businesses were some of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 crisis – and we believe this program will help the most impacted communities to thrive.”“Pacific Premier Bank recognizes that small businesses suffered disproportionately throughout the pandemic, which is why we are supporting LISC and their BBET initiative with a grant of $150,000,” Sherri Scott, senior executive vice president at the bank, said in a statement.The inaugural cohort of the program will begin Sept. 20.