iHeartMedia Atlanta Commits to Launching 10K Black-Owned Businesses in Atlanta Metro Area

ATLANTA, June 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iHeartMedia Atlanta today announced its newest commitment to helping 10,000 aspiring Black entrepreneurs in the Atlanta metro area launch their businesses. The announcement comes on the heels of iHeartMedia Atlanta's multi-year commitment to Atlanta-based Operation HOPE in April, in support of its national 1 Million Black Business Initiative (1MBB), which aims to create one million new Black businesses by 2030. iHeartMedia Atlanta is dedicated to fostering the creation of new Black businesses in the Atlanta metro area. 

According to the US Census Bureau, there are over 2.6 Million Black-owned businesses in the US, with Atlanta landing in the top 5 cities for Black entrepreneurs. This initiative will continue to amplify the work of aspiring Black entrepreneurs, providing them with top-of-the-line coaching and educational resources and a 120-day free trial, courtesy of Shopify. iHeartMedia Atlanta will also provide social media support and advertising to a select group of entrepreneurs in the future, with additional activations to come. 

"We are excited to partner with Operation HOPE to grow Black business ownership here in Atlanta," said Drew Lauter, President, iHeartMedia Atlanta. "Our city is the epicenter for entrepreneurial energy and we are proud to use iHeart's considerable resources to help owners of Black businesses achieve their dreams."

"Operation HOPE is thrilled about the expanded commitment made today by iHeartMedia Atlanta to the creation of 10,000 Black-owned businesses in our great city. Atlanta is a mecca of Black culture, life, and business, and this type of private-sector leadership is slated to pave the way for future success and upward mobility," said John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO of Operation HOPE. "iHeart Media continues to be one of the most influential voices in media, and we're grateful that they're using their voice and reach to support our vision of social justice through an economic lens."

Launched in October 2020 with founding partner Shopify, 1MBB aims to remove traditional hurdles to Black entrepreneurship and encourage more aspiring Black business owners to start – and scale – by providing them with the tools, resources, and education needed to succeed. To level the playing field, 1MBB will focus on critical tools for business growth such as technology and resources, educational programs, and the opportunity to access capital. Through this program, Black business owners can sign up for Operation HOPE's award-winning model of community uplift, financial literacy and education, with access to tailored tools and resources upon graduation.

To learn more about 1MBB or to get your business started, visit, buildingblackbizATL.com or operationhope.org.

About iHeartMedia Atlanta
iHeartMedia Atlanta owns and operates WWPW-FM, WUBL-FM, WRDG-FM and WBZY-FM, and is part of iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 250 million people each month. It is number one in broadcast and streaming radio as well as podcasting and audio ad tech, and includes three segments: The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group; the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group; and the Audio and Media Services Group. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information 

About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through our community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: www.OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contacts
Mishelle Rivera, iHeart Atlanta
404-962-7136
[email protected]

Lalohni Campbell, Operation HOPE
404-593-7145
[email protected]

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SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc.