EEM Report

By Sandra Hannebohm

June 2022: EEM Jocelyn Stevens (far left) represents BBI at Moncton’s Newcomer and International Student Settlement Fair

June 2022: Blessing Owowa (right) of DB Pearlz Designs chats with shoppers at BBI’s Juneteenth vendor market Entrepreneurship Engagement Managers (EEMs) at the Black Business Initiative offer financial advice and counseling, loans and grants, resources, and information but, in short, “We are the navigators,” EEM Rodger Smith says. When small business owners and operators come with questions, EEMs are the ones finding the answers, providing support from ideation to execution. They’ve done this in person for years, but the pandemic forced everyone to pivot. First, calls had to be made to set up new ways of communicating and getting services to clients. One problem at the beginning was that not everyone was familiar with Zoom or virtual calling. This brought up a key need in the Black business community — technology. This need gave rise to the development of the Consulting Advisory Services (CAS) Grant Program, which applicants can use to hire consultants in any area related to their business, especially to help owners navigate the pitfalls of the new urgent need for tech savvy. The program will open for applications again this fall. A major 2021 highlight was the Juneteenth celebration in partnership with Develop Nova Scotia, where small businesses from across the province participated in weekend pop-ups on the waterfront, with music provided by DJ Webber, raising $8,300 for the vendors last year. This year, the Juneteenth celebration brought vendors not only to the waterfront but, thanks to a partnership with the Halifax Shopping Center, to the mall. In 2021, the third floor in front of the Apple store saw roughly 10 vendors fill the bright, empty space at the head of the escalator with their wares. In 2022, a vacant storefront on the second floor was used. Shoppers were drawn in by a beautiful, themed balloon display and lively music.