Toronto, ON – October 22, 2025 – The Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) welcomes Monday’s announcement by the Honourable Minister Rechie Valdez of a renewed $189 million federal investment in the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), alongside commitments tied to advancing the Black Justice Strategy. 

This renewal ensures that BEP will continue to strengthen the ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs across Canada—a priority that NABC and partner organizations strongly advanced in the 2026 Federal Pre-Budget Submission. In that submission, NABC called for the federal government to fully deliver already-committed economic development funding, including the $189M BEP, while expanding Black-led credential recognition pilots, diaspora trade partnerships, and youth employment pipelines.

NABC also acknowledges the leadership of the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), both as advocates for Black entrepreneurship and as key partners in delivering supports to Black entrepreneurs. Their presence alongside Minister Valdez at the announcement underscores the shared commitment of Black-led organizations across Canada to advancing equity, prosperity, and intergenerational wealth. Building a united Black sector remains core to NABC’s mission, and this renewal represents a step forward for all of us.

The government’s announcement also referenced the Black Justice Strategy. For NABC and our partners, this is an important reminder that economic inclusion and justice cannot be treated as separate or siloed efforts. They must be advanced as complementary priorities in a broader equity agenda. Our pre-budget submission called on Ottawa to implement the $23.6M Strategy in partnership with Black-led organizations, alongside establishing a permanent Mental Health for Black Canadians Fund—ensuring that investments in entrepreneurship, justice, and mental health reinforce each other and drive systemic change together.

“The renewal of the Black Entrepreneurship Program is an important milestone for Black entrepreneurs and communities across Canada,” said amanuel melles, Executive Director of NABC. “It reflects years of consistent advocacy by Black-led organizations—including NABC and the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC)—who pressed the federal government to honour its commitments. We thank Minister Valdez for advancing this important step. To truly unlock this opportunity, these funds must be implemented in partnership with Black-led organizations who are best positioned to deliver culturally relevant and effective supports. Without that, the risk is that investments remain siloed and disconnected from broader federal priorities. Siloed, project-based funding has been a downfall for our community sector in the past, creating competition instead of collaboration. This renewal must break that cycle.”

This renewal is also a critical opportunity to align Prime Minister Carney’s mandate with the realities and leadership of Black communities—ensuring that commitments like BEP and the Black Justice Strategy become tools for intergenerational prosperity, equity, and systemic change.

NABC will continue its government relations, convening, and sector leadership to make sure these commitments deliver real, sustained outcomes in equity, prosperity, and justice, while reinforcing that Black-led organizations must remain at the center of implementation.

About NABC
The Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) is a national organization dedicated to building a strong, sustainable Black community sector by enabling conditions for systems change. Through convening, capacity building, government relations and policy, research, evaluation, and smart grant-making, NABC advances equity and prosperity for Black communities across Canada.

Media Contact
RaeChelle-Faith Hamilton-Ankamreddy
Senior Government Relations & Policy Analyst, NABC
[email protected]