BUSINESS RESOURCE HUB
ACER supports the small and micro-businesses that are the economic backbone of BIPOC immigrant communities in the Northwestern suburbs. Our work includes connecting businesses to resources, providing free technical assistance and one-to-one business consulting, training for start-ups and new business owners, and distributing micro-grant funding and scholarships.
ACER’s primary focus is to organize our business community. We want to advance culturally tailored wealth building strategies, encourage shared ownership models, and build generational wealth in our communities.
Connecting entrepreneurs with experts
At ACER, we believe capital is most effective when paired with capacity building. Grant recipients are integrated into our Business Resource Hub, which includes:
Financial Literacy Coaching: Guidance on bookkeeping and tax preparedness.
Procurement Assistance: Help with vetting vendors for equipment and construction to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
Strategic Marketing: One-on-one sessions to ensure the new infrastructure is leveraged to attract a wider customer base.
Building capacity for entrepreneurs and careerists
The ACER Inc. Grant Program is a high-impact funding initiative dedicated to closing the wealth gap and fostering commercial vitality within the Twin Cities. As an organization, ACER recognizes that access to flexible capital is often the primary barrier for under-invested entrepreneurs. This program provides the “gap financing” necessary for small businesses to modernize their infrastructure, professionalize their brand, and achieve long-term operational sustainability
ACER also supports workforce development in healthcare by providing scholarships for various training programs, and supporting our community in their career journeys
Through our micro-grants programs, we are able to reallocate resources to businesses. We issue grants to business owners with various needs who may have traditionally faced barriers in accessing grants. Grant opportunities are offered at varying times throughout the year.
Supporting entrepreneurs with accessible capital
At African Career, Education, and Resource Inc. (ACER), we advance economic equity by providing underserved entrepreneurs with the capital they need to grow. Our program is specifically designed for “unbankable” borrowers those who may lack the credit history or collateral typically required by traditional banks
Connecting entrepreneurs with resources
Access a hand-picked directory of external programs and partner organizations. From state-level grants to specialized non-profit consulting, we connect entrepreneurs with the external resources necessary to professionalize, fund, and expand their business ventures
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STORIES
