Empowering the Future: Celebrating Black Business Month with the Women Lift Project

August is Black Business Month — a time to celebrate, uplift, and invest in the resilience, brilliance, and unstoppable growth of Black entrepreneurs across the country. It’s more than a moment. It’s a movement to support legacy-building, economic equity, and community empowerment.

At the heart of that movement is the Women Lift Project — a Michigan-based nonprofit created to empower Black women business owners with microgrants, mentorship, and community support. And now, during Black Business Month, the next round of Liftee applications is officially OPEN!

If you’re a Black woman entrepreneur in Michigan, this is your time. Applications are accepted now through August 31, and our next group of winners will be announced in September.

Why This Matters

• Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, yet they receive less than 1% of venture capital funding.

• According to the 2023 U.S. Census data, 1 in 5 Black women in business are sole proprietors, meaning support systems like WLP can make a game-changing difference.

• Local businesses return more than 3x as much money per dollar spent back into the community compared to national chains.

This is why initiatives like the Women Lift Project exist — to close the gap, build up generational wealth, and support the future of Black women-owned businesses in our neighborhoods.

What Is a Liftee?

A Liftee is a Black woman entrepreneur selected to receive a microgrant and support from the Women Lift Project community. The funds can be used for equipment, marketing, education, inventory — whatever that next step looks like for your business.

We don’t just lift with money — we lift with mentorship, visibility, and community.

Apply Today

If you, or someone you know, is a Black woman business owner ready to grow, lead, and thrive — we encourage you to apply today. All it takes is your vision, your story, and the courage to take the next step.

Applications are open now through August 31 at www.WomenLiftProject.com/lifteeaplication

Winners will be announced in September, and we can’t wait to celebrate your next chapter.

Support the Movement

Not a business owner? You can still lift.

By supporting the Women Lift Project — whether through donations, partnerships, or sharing this opportunity — you’re helping rewrite the narrative and build a future where empowered women empower other women.

Let’s make Black Business Month more than just a celebration — let’s make it a commitment.

🖤 When we grow, we grow together.

APPLY TO BE A LIFTEE!