Groupe 3737: Funding to Support Black Non-Profit Organizations in Quebec #SBCCI

Montreal – At a landmark press conference held today, Louisgard Jean-François, President and CEO of Groupe 3737, announced two major measures that will have a significant impact on Black communities across Canada.

For several years, Groupe 3737, in close collaboration with the federal government, has been working to establish tangible resources to support initiatives originating from Black communities. To date, this partnership has enabled the deployment of more than $860 million in support of projects led by Afro-descendant Canadians.

Two major announcements were made today:

The first concerns the extension of the International Decade for People of African Descent by an additional four years. This extension aims to continue raising awareness, promoting equity, and encouraging concerted efforts for the development of Black communities.

“Four more years to highlight the importance of working collectively to energize the Canadian Black community – a community that, in the end, contributes to the entire country,” emphasized Mr. Jean-François.

The second announcement, described as “extraordinary” by the CEO of Groupe 3737, involves an additional envelope of $21.5 million. These funds will help strengthen the organizational capacities of more than 430 non-profit organizations across the country, bringing the total number of organizations funded under the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BET) Ecosystem Fund to nearly 1,900.

“This is a concrete, measurable, and structuring action for the future,” said Mr. Jean-François.

“This work was not done alone – it is a collective effort between national organizations, public institutions, and above all, the federal government.”

Although this new injection of funds marks an important milestone, Groupe 3737 considers that the work is far from over.

“Our goal is for these resources to become permanent, in order to sustainably support community initiatives across Canada,” stated the CEO.

Mr. Jean-François concluded by reaffirming Groupe 3737’s commitment to working hand in hand with all concerned partners to build a fair and inclusive future.

Groupe 3737 is an entrepreneurial ecosystem based in Montreal, dedicated to supporting, funding, and promoting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. It is recognized for its role as a catalyst for initiatives with high social and economic impact in Afro-descendant communities in Canada.