Asian Business Empowerment Council

NextState MBE: A great program opportunity for our small business owners! For more details and to sign up, follow the links below. ❗Deadline for applications is Next Friday, July 26❗

“I think about the vital work that our community organizations do to make sure that every Asian resident in our region feels seen, heard, and treasured.” In case you missed it, Danielle Kim, director of The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation, was featured in the Boston Globe to share more about the recent grants announced by ACF last week, including grants aligned with findings from the Asian Business Empowerment Council's recent report. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3Ww0yAb More on ACF's grantees: https://bit.ly/3W0HvNS

"There's a lot of untapped opportunities to empower and uplift AAPI businesses in Massachusetts so that they can address these challenges head on and have a better experience operating their business." Did you have a chance to tune into WBUR last week to hear from the director of the Asian Business Empowerment Council, Q.J. Shi? Q.J., along with the founder of Madhrasi Chai Nancy Daniel, discussed ABEC's new report looking at the state of AAPI-owned businesses in Massachusetts. If you missed it live, the segment is now available online: https://wbur.fm/3zLkKWG You can also check out the full report here: https://bit.ly/3xyRi5w

✨ India Society of Worcester is hosting India Day and looking for vendors!✨ ❗To sign up and for more details, contact the email in the flyer. The deadline to sign up is August 1st ❗ 💼 Also at India Day, there will be a Business Expo and Career Fair where you''ll be able to network, build brand awareness, and even recruit potential employees. For more information, visit https://buff.ly/3XHAu79

We joined our partner, the Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC), at The Boston Foundation for the release of their important report, Setting Roots in Rocky Soil: The State of AAPI-owned Businesses in Massachusetts, last month. The report confirms the outsize impact that AAPI-owned businesses have in Massachusetts, contributing $3.9 billion to the state economy each year. It also outlines common sense solutions to barriers AAPI businesses face in their desire to grow or set down roots in Boston and across the Commonwealth. Mayor Wu and the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion remain committed to working with community leaders like ABEC to enact all of these solutions, allowing small businesses to expand their reach, hire more residents, and bring vibrancy to all of our neighborhoods. Learn more about the state of AAPI-owned businesses in Massachusetts and read the full report at tbf.org/settingrootsreport

Yesterday, we had the honor of presenting our latest findings from our report "Setting Roots in Rocky Soil: The State of AAPI-owned Businesses in Massachusetts" at the State House. Co-hosted by Senator Pavel Payano, Rep. Tackey Chan, and the House Asian Caucus, we the space to present our important date to fellow legislators and staff. We also highlighted important policy and practice recommendations in order for the AAPI small business community to grow and thrive. Thank you to Sen. Payano, Rep. Chan. and the House Asian Caucus for their leadership!

We are grateful to feel the support of Senator Pavel Payano alongside the House Asian Caucus, and Rep. Tackey Chan. Your dedication and leadership for our AAPI small business owners cannot go unnoticed!

Today, The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation announced they will be awarding $450,000 to 52 nonprofits serving the AAPI Community. These seven business support organizations in particular have been recognized in their commitment to expanding access and opportunities for the AAPI small business community. 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 Thank you to The Asian Community Fund for their dedication to continuously build up the AAPI community across all areas across The Commonwealth. 🎉 Congratulations to ACE NextGen, ElevAsian, Fan Chinatown, Inc., India Society Of Worcester, Panethnic Pourovers, Inc., Southeast Asian Coalition of Central MA, and Women Of Color Entrepreneurs (WOCE)! To read more information on ACF's 2024 Grant Cycle, visit https://buff.ly/3WgFT45

Build your brand with AT&T! This grant is for women-owned businesses with 50 employees or less and registered in the United States. Apply today to become part of the She's Connected by AT&T community and for a chance to win $50,000 for your small business. ❗ Deadline to apply is TOMORROW at 11:59PM❗ For more details, visit

🗞️ We are featured in The Bay State Banner! 🗣️ “The data we see in this report serves as a reminder that skewed public narratives like the model minority stereotype that paints all AAPI businesses as successful harms not only AAPI communities, but also creates barriers to solidarity and mutual support among all marginalized groups, hindering our collective progress.” - Q.J. Shi, Director of Asian Business Empowerment Council Thank you to Rahsaan Hall for this great coverage! To read the full coverage on our report and its recommendations, visit https://buff.ly/4bCZuQl