Black Enterprise
Aug. 16, 2023
Progressive Insurance, the leading commercial auto insurer in the United States, has announced the 10 recipients of its 2023 Driving Small Business Forward grant with Hello Alice in support of Black entrepreneurs. Each small business owner has been awarded a $25,000 grant for use toward the purchase of a commercial vehicle for their business.
While 20% of Black Americans start businesses, only 4% of Black American businesses survive the startup stage, as they disproportionately struggle with debt and raising capital in addition to challenges such as a lack of helpful relationships in the business community, according to McKinsey & Company. Progressive has stepped in to help.
“At Progressive, we celebrate all business owners, yet we understand Black business owners still face unique challenges,” said Karen Bailo, commercial lines president at Progressive. “For the last two years, the Driving Small Business Forward grant program is one of the ways we’ve been supporting entrepreneurs on their small business journey, and we look forward to seeing how this grant helps these deserving recipients continue their work serving the community.”
Progressive’s grant recipients are:
- Derald Gray, owner of DG Visionaries, Indianapolis
- Elizabeth Abunaw, owner of Forty Acres Fresh Market, Chicago
- Theodore Smith, owner of Golfing for Excellence, Washington, D.C.
- Muna Mohamed, owner of Kalsoni, Minneapolis
- Shenicia Barnes, owner of Kidz on Wheelz LLC, Mansfield, Texas
- Sean Morrison, owner of Lets Ryde NC, Raleigh, NC
- Carmel Mims, owner of Pet Porter Pals, Pasadena, CA
- Robert Randolph, owner of Rob Ran Creative Services, Milwaukee
- Dr. Alecia Gabriel/Deirdre Roberson, co-owners of The Lab Drawer, Detroit
- Kamilah Moss, owner of Tidy Pets Pooper Scoopers, Fort Lauderdale, FL