Meta Announces Georgia as Largest Recipient of Black Business Grants
Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg Virtually Visits to Reinforce Commitment to Small Businesses
Company with Mission to Create Confident Young Women of Color is Featured
Meta Platforms, Inc., or Meta, is headquartered in California and is formerly known as Facebook, Inc. The company is the parent organization of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, among other subsidiaries.
Meta’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg had a virtual visit, on Wednesday, December 1, with Atlanta as a part of her tour to reinforce the company’s commitment to small businesses.
During her visit, she announced that Georgia is the largest grant recipient of any state from Meta’s commitment to invest $100 million in Black-owned small businesses, Black creators, and nonprofits serving the Black community.
Meta announced that over 1,400 of Georgia’s Black-owned small businesses received $4,000 financial grants – over $5.6 million given directly to the Georgia Black business community.
- On Wednesday, Sandberg participated in a roundtable discussion with seven Atlanta Black-owned businesses to discuss their pandemic pivots and talk about the company’s small business support programs.
- She also participated in a fireside chat with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to discuss small business and economic recovery, which was livestreamed.
- Finally, to continue to encourage Georgia shoppers to support Black-owned businesses this holiday season, Sandberg released an Instagram Gift Guide featuring some of the local businesses she’ll be meeting on December 1, including Beautiful Curly Me, Agape Gems and more.
- ATL Roundtable Participant and Featured Gift Guide Business: Evana Oli’s 9-year old daughter, Zoe, didn’t have confidence in hair so together they are on a mission to help more girls like Zoe become #curlyandconfident. Beautiful Curly Me is featured in Sheryl’s Atlanta Gift Guide and has been selected by Grammy-award winning artist, Ciara, as a featured business in her #BuyBlack Friday Gift Guide, in partnership with Meta.
- ATL Grant Recipients: BK International Education Consultancy and Agape Gems are winners of Meta’s Black-owned business grants. Either business can share their story, what it meant to be awarded a Meta grant, and the experience meeting Sheryl Sandberg at the small business roundtable.
Since 2019, there has been a 56% growth in newly established, Black-owned businesses in Atlanta. Meta is committed to accelerating that growth by investing in Georgia’s Black-owned businesses through their products, programs, and grant funding.
Meta Small Business Roundtable Participants
- Beautiful Curly Me, an Atlanta-based business created to inspire self-confidence in young girls of color through relatable dolls, hair care accessories and affirming products.
- The Wright Stuff Chics, an apparel shop based in Douglasville aimed at empowering teachers.
- BK International Education Consultancy, a professional services agency based in Midtown that’s specific to Education Training.
- Agape Gems, a handmade jewelry business based in Atlanta.
- Pardo Naturals, a natural skin care and health and beauty company based in Covington that focuses on certain skin conditions.
- Unexpected Atlanta Walking Tours, a walking tour company focused on Black History in Downtown Atlanta.
- Goodr, a sustainable waste management company that reduces food waste and helps feed people.
