Black women entrepreneurs could possibly be among the many recipients of $100,000 in matched grants through Block Advisors By H&R Block for women small business owners.

This is the primary time H&R Block’s small business unit, Block Advisors, has offered such financing. Raising capital stays an obstacle for many Black businesswomen trying to start out or expand a business.

Called Fund her future, under this system, grants will probably be awarded to 5 small enterprises run by women. One grand prize winner will receive $50,000; 4 finalists will receive $12,500 each. All grant recipients may have access to a yr of small business services from Block Advisors. Those interested can use by May 26, 2024. We especially encourage applications from small, women-owned businesses that promote inclusion and can exhibit community impact.

These much-needed funds can are available very handy. According to a press release, the most recent data from Block Advisors’ Small Business Resilience Series study shows that “31% started a business within five months of considering the option, 9% more than non-women.” However, “compared to their counterparts, they were more likely to earn less and be denied loans, and the disparities were even greater for small business owners of color.”

The initiative goals to assist close the funding gap for women’s businesses. This is crucial because Black women founders are reported to earn annual revenues of $24,000, which is about six times lower than all women-owned businesses. Data shows that 61% of Black women use their capital to finance a brand new business.

Industry observers query how long the crisis could last if Black women owners proceed to face obstacles in accessing financing, including bank loans, enterprise capital and investor-backed aid, amongst other stacks of capital.

“Over the past five years, women-led businesses have grown almost twice as fast as men-led businesses,” said Jamil Khan, chief strategy officer and small business specialist at H&R Block.

She added: “Despite women-owned small businesses being considered one of the fastest-growing segments of the small business space, they proceed to experience funding and support gaps in comparison with their male counterparts. The announcement of the grant program kicking off National Small Business Month will hopefully make clear this discrepancy.

See more details in regards to the program Here.

When opening the restaurant, restaurateurs Kelan and Vinny Watson began cooperation with rapper Quavo V12 Restaurant and Sports Bar. Located at 610 Spring Street in Midtown Atlanta, V12 will open this Saturday. The restaurant is in a great location, with quick access to highway 75/85 and public transportation.

A video posted to a Migos fan account on TikTok shows the “Hotel Lobby” rapper giving fans a glimpse of the chic eatery overlooking the Atlanta skyline.

@Hunchorocketinfinity Quavo V12 restaurant is open on the identical day as Huncho Day. 🙌😄 Congratulations cho cho 🥰🙏 Repost: @v_watson 🥂 #v12restaurant #quavohuncho #quavofans #migos #migosfans #2024 #spring2024 #this summer #Congratulations ♬ original sound – migosfanpage

“I’m really proud of myself.” He said on the recording.

Co-owner Kelan Watson said their goal is to create unforgettable moments for foodies and fans.

“V12 will create moments in Atlanta history where the worlds of spectators and epicureans collide. Come and join us to experience V12,” co-owner Kelan Watson said in a press release

His brother and business partner, Vinny Waston, says they go the additional mile to provide their guests with an exceptional experience.

“My team and I were obsessed with every detail – from the chandeliers, to the lighting, to the sound, to the presentation, etc. I’m sure our guests will create unforgettable memories at V12. It’s going to be EPIC,” he said.

Beverage director Simone Hopson will oversee the bar, which can feature an in depth list of handcrafted cocktails and a curated wine list. There are also over 20 TVs within the space, making it a great meeting place for sports fans.

The interior is decorated with furniture imported from Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, in addition to works by local artists. The retractable roof gives guests the chance to dine under the celebs in the course of the warmer months. Valet parking and on-site parking might be available.

But the point of interest of the 7,500-square-foot space is the Lamborghini from Quavos’ “Lamb Talk” appearance on the show, which sits in the course of the restaurant.

Dinner guests can secure the table by doing online booking.

Retirees are eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, however the profit could shrink, in accordance with preliminary forecasts by economists. Economic instability also adds to their concerns on this appearance-driven economy driven by greed inflation.

Estimated drop to 2.6% from 3.2% (this yr’s COLA) is forecast for 2025, although the COLA shall be finalized after the third quarter. Due to always rising inflation and the spending of emergency savings funds, 71% of retirees feel financially unstable.

“The confidence that both workers and retirees have in their ability to fund their retirement in 2023 has declined significantly,” said Craig Copeland, EBRI’s director of wealth advantages. “The last time confidence fell on this scale was in 2008, during the global financial crisis.”

Additionally, 58% of retirees were cutting back on unnecessary spending on account of economic uncertainty and rising costs of products and supplies.

The Motley Fool explained how COLA is calculated.

“Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are based on the common inflation rate through the third quarter, the three-month period covering July, August and September. Interestingly, COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage and Office Workers (CPI-W), a subset of the better-known CPI-U“

It is significant to notice that the 2023 COLA was noteworthy 8.7%.

As retirees feel the pressure of rising prices, many are resorting to returning to work – even part-time – to earn more money. Fifty-seven percent of black households they’re financially broken, and older Blacks are more likely than whites and other ethnic and racial populations to return to physically demanding jobs.

Not only is COLA a priority, but an alarming study also revealed that Black people may not even have access to retirement advantages like their white counterparts.

A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that “Only 57% of older employees (ages 55-64) and 53% of prime-age employees (ages 25-54) take part in employer-provided retirement plans, and the proportion this drops to 25% for employees aged 65 and over. “Lack of access is the biggest factor in reducing employee participation in retirement plans.”