Following is a lightly edited information release. Find the players at Instagram: @heinzbki, @leeinitiative and @srrj_coalition.
HEINZ has announced that for the third consecutive year, it is donating over $1 million to fund up to 60 grants for Black food business owners, in partnership with The LEE Initiative, based in Louisville, and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice, a coalition of industry leaders doing the work to benefit Black-owned restaurants and communities.
Through the Black Kitchen Initiative, HEINZ, The LEE Initiative and SRRJ welcome Black food business owners to apply for a grant—up to $25,000—at www.leeinitiative.org/southern-restaurants-for-racial-justice. The applications will remain open until July 31st.
“The HEINZ Black Kitchen Initiative aims to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Black food culture by helping to break down barriers that keep Black voices and cooking out of America’s culinary space,” says Megan Lang, Director of Brand Communications, HEINZ. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with The LEE Initiative and SRRJ. We’ve heard from past recipients just how impactful the grants have been in supporting their businesses across the country, and we are thrilled to provide another $1 million in grants in 2023.”
Black business owners face a myriad of challenges in starting and maintaining their ventures. It costs Black entrepreneurs $5,000 more to open a business than their non-Black peers, and once open, they face additional pressure; 86% of Black business owners believe that their business is judged more critically than those that are non-Black owned.
“Through our partnership with HEINZ and SRRJ, we’re elated to have the chance to uplift so many talented business owners across the country and to empower diverse entrepreneurs in the hospitality space,” says Lindsey Ofcacek, Co-founder and Executive Director of The LEE Initiative. “We’re especially excited to continue doing this work, given the success and growth of past grant recipients. There is undoubtedly more work to be done in making the industry more equitable, but I’m grateful we can play a part in deploying resources to these incredible black entrepreneurs.”
Because of these persistent challenges, it is more important than ever to support Black entrepreneurs in America. Some of Kentucky’s past grantees are Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company, Highview Ice Cream and Coffee, and The Black Italian Griglia Cucina.
In addition to the grant program, HEINZ created the Black Kitchen Podcast Series, spotlighting Black culinary innovators and the many ways Black individuals are moving the culinary space forward. HEINZ recently released a second season focused on chatting with Black innovators across the industry who are changing the face of food. Fans can listen wherever they regularly enjoy podcasts.
