Shaquille O’Neal and American Express Launch $10M Grant Initiative For Small Black Businesses

Shaquille O’Neal has teamed up with American Express to help small black businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Coalition to Back Black Businesses

The ‘Coalition to Back Black Businesses’ is a multi-year initiative will help 280 Black business owners with three to 20 people employees that are eligible. Each business will get a $5,000 grant from the program.

In an interview with Business Insider, O’Neal talked about the program and his history of partnering with American Express on entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts.

“They’re giving $10 million over four years to small businesses, and I think it’s a great program,” O’Neal stated.

“We’re not only giving money but also guiding them and helping them with what they need to get to the next level.”

First-of-its-kind collaboration between four major Black chambers

The program was announced in June by American Express. It is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between four major Black chambers: the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Business League, the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., and Walker’s Legacy, according to a news release. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is among the collaborators.

”Small businesses play a crucial role in our communities, and when the pandemic hit, Black-owned small businesses were hit the hardest,” stated Anré Williams, Group President, Global Merchant & Network Services, American Express.

“The Coalition is aimed to provide eligible Black-owned small businesses with much-needed capital to help recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic and help them rebuild their businesses.”

How to Apply

The application for the grant program has a submission deadline of September 21, and a list of eligibility criteria is outlined on the program’s website.

Photo: Getty