Facebook's grants for Black-owned small businesses are now up for grabs
The social media giant has millions of dollars available for majority Black-owned small businesses.
- I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.
Facebook has announced that applications are now open for more than $40 million in grants for Black-owned businesses. As of Wednesday, majority Black-owned US businesses with up to 50 employees can apply for the grant online.
Black-owned businesses can also now self-designate their Facebook page as being Black-owned. The designation won't appear publicly on the profile or page, but it will come up as being Black-owned in the Businesses Nearby section.
"This will make it easier for people to discover, message, buy goods or order food through third-party apps from Black-owned businesses in their local communities," Facebook said.
Read more: Black Lives Matter: Movies, TV shows and books on systemic racism
Facebook added it's already distributed the majority of its COVID-19 grants to small businesses whose revenue has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes as Black Lives Matter protests are continuing across the US as people demonstrate against the deaths at the hands of the police of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and against systemic racism.
Black Lives Matter. Visit blacklivesmatter.carrd.co to learn how to donate, sign petitions and protest safely.