PROGRAM OVERVIEW
To provide direct support and access to capital to Black-owned food service operators in Louisiana that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, in collaboration with the National Urban League and PepsiCo Foundation, is pleased to launch the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (BRAP). This entrepreneurial immersion program provides eligible firms with:
- industry-specific entrepreneurial training sessions,
- one-on-one business advising and technical assistance from an experienced food service consultant,
- access to funding for growth-related projects, and
- connections to other resources available to support business continuity and scalability.
![BRAP Logo 2](https://urbanleaguela.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BRAP-Logo-2.png)
ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
ULLA has partnered with Chattanooga-based restaurant incubator, Proof, to provide industry-based entrepreneurial training and consulting services for participating businesses. The inaugural cohort will invite 24 Black-owned food service operators from across Louisiana to participate in an 8-week, virtual accelerator program, and will provide each participant with post-accelerator consulting services. The program includes:
- 4 Live, Virtual Interactive Learning Sessions
- 7 E-Learning Modules (Self-paced weekly assignments)
- 8 Hours of One-on-One Consulting Services during the Accelerator Program
- 6 Hours of Post-accelerator One-on-One Consulting Services
![cafe high fivev2](https://urbanleaguela.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cafe-high-fivev2.png)
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Participation in the accelerator program is application-based and firms will be accepted based on eligibility, fit, and ability to commit to program. Eligible businesses must:
- Be at least 51% owned and operated by a Black/African American individual
- Be a small business based on SBA Size Standards
- Operate a restaurant, mobile food service, or catering business in Louisiana
- Have been in business since 2019
- Have revenue of less than $250,000 in the year preceding the application
The cost of the program is $2,150.00 per participant. Scholarships are made possible by the PepsiCo Foundation. The inaugural cohort for ULLA’s BRAP will launch on August 23, 2021.
![chef food truckv2](https://urbanleaguela.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/chef-food-truckv2.png)
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are now open for the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program.
Please visit www.proofincubator.com/louisiana to apply today.
The application deadline is Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 5:00pm CST.
![cafe ladyv2](https://urbanleaguela.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cafe-ladyv2.png)