Black entrepreneurs gather for Bridging the Gap Community Meeting

Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Gulfport had a unique opportunity to learn more about finding continued success at the Bridging the Gap community meeting on Tuesday evening.

The event was hosted at the Almanett Hotel and Bistro and gave attendees the chance to learn more about accessing capital and opportunities.

A panel of elected officials and community leaders answered questions and provided information on a variety of topics, including funding opportunities for business owners and available technical resources. Panel members included Gulf Coast Business Resource Center Director LaShaundra McCarty, Renaissance Community Loan Fund Commercial Lender Caretta S. Hall and Harrison County District Four Supervisor Kent Jones.

Entrepreneurs were also given more information on how to gain capital — something that Systems Consultant Associates President Michael Thomas said remains difficult.

“One of the greatest challenges that face African American businesses and small businesses is access to capital,” Thomas said. “When they go into financial institutions to try to get funds for their businesses, they either get less money than they need or no money.”

Thomas explained how Bridging the Gap can help combat that challenge.

“Our goal through this opportunity that we have is to get them technical support so that when they go into those financial institutions, they get the loans that they want,” Thomas said.

Program Director Nicole McNamee shared the importance of the meeting and how it will continue to affect the community in the future.

“It’s all about bridging the gap between our community organizations, elected officials and entrepreneurs,” McNamee said. “We’re hoping that after the conversation, that we will be able to establish an ecosystem to help businesses take advantage of the SSBCI loan funds that are handed through the state.”