KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV) – A Kansas City-based nonprofit is fighting systemic racism by bridging the gap between Black and white businesses. The nonprofit KC GIFT has awarded $1.7 million in grants to 73 Black-owned businesses.
“We’re going to continue our work and our goal is to make sure 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 Caris Harrington, KC GIFT’s chief program officer. “Whatever it takes to build a strong Black economic ecosystem, we want to be a part of that.”
GIFT stands for Generating Income for Tomorrow. The business center is located in the Kansas City metropolitan area at the corner of 50th Street and Prospect, where a great need was identified. It is said that many black businesses there are still economically disadvantaged due to discriminatory redlining practices in the 1920s and 1930s on Troost Avenue. This is due to black businesses previously being denied small business loans.
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“We understood what problems our business community was facing and we tried to jump in right away and make sure we could help them. Our goal is to make sure that then, after a year of experience with Gift and all of our resources and support, they can become financially strong on their own,” Harrington said.
They recently awarded two $25,000 grants to black-owned businesses KC Wing Bar and Urban Restaurant. There’s a story behind every reception at a small black business.
“When we reopen during the pandemic, while other businesses are getting the funding to stay in business, we weren’t able to get those funds,” says Gigi’s Vegan and Wellness Cafe owner Gigi Jones.
The cafe is known for its organic food and smoothies, and Jones said it was the support of her customers that kept her doors open at a time when others had to close.
“After five years, we’re still here. We’re grateful for that. Our doors are still open. Word is getting out about Gigi’s and what we do here,” she said.
Because of the store’s location on Westport Road, she says it is ineligible for some business grants. With limited outside resources, she has networked with other Black-owned businesses who support each other through social media, shopping and referrals.
“When I talk to other black-owned businesses, I can tell we really pool our resources, work closely together and support each other. And that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
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Darrell Johnson is the owner of interior design company Discover Your Design and has already received a KC GIFT grant. He said the funds have helped the company and its growth.
“We were very conscious of not taking out private loans and the like and relying only on grants and our own resources. That really helped us a lot,” said Johnson.
For more information about Kansas City GIFT and its mission, visit its website.
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