Black entrepreneurs in Northern Ontario will continue to access critical business support through 2030, thanks to a $1.2 million FedNor investment in the Northern Ontario Black Economic Empowerment Program (NOBEEP), securing their programming through 2030.

Announcing the investment Aug. 24 in downtown Sudbury, Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe said the funds will allow the program to scale up its business consulting, mentorship networks, workshops and trade show activities, “helping create 25 business startups and support the expansion and modernization of 40 more enterprises.”

Designed to dismantle systemic racial barriers to economic opportunity, NOBEEP seeks to equip Black entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario with the culturally grounded resources needed to launch, finance and expand sustainable enterprises. The funding comes from FedNor’s Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP).

But it’s not about an unfair advantage, said CEO Chamirai Nyabeze, of the claim he hears often. “NOBEEP is here to give Black people access to resources that they don’t know about. Northern Ontario has opportunities,” he said. “We want Black people to know about those opportunities.”

He said clients are often surprised by the level of requirement to own a business in Canada, and NOBEEP helps them navigate the system. It’s also about learning to track their business’ progress, allowing them to take that information to funders, but also, giving clients confidence to make future decisions themselves.

“I envision a time when the Black population is so involved in the economy of Northern Ontario that it’s no longer a surprise to see a Black person running a business in Ontario,” he told Sudbury.com. “We strongly believe that systemic racism can be addressed by economic freedom.”

There is also the cultural aspect of what NOBEEP can offer, something specific to Black culture as well as newcomers, even if that means speaking hard truths.

“From a cultural standpoint, we can be more blunt and not sugarcoat,” he said. “We can be very transparent in how we view a business. That transparency is very important. Without insulting someone, the cultural context becomes very, very important.”

Highlighting the practical impact of NOBEEP’s network, Lapointe spoke of the work of Samuel Chimaobi Emeribe, whose business, SettleInn, provides travelling and housing services as well as immigration and trades testing to Sudbury.

Hosted at the organization’s 124 Cedar St. location, Emeribe told Sudbury.com “When you leave your country for a new country, knowing you have people you can speak with goes a long way.”

He said it was NOBEEP who helped him bring his ideas to fruition.

“Honestly, having someone who actually believes in what you’re doing is everything to me,” he said. “When we wanted to start the business and were able to align with NOBEEP, they’ve been very helpful in getting us one step ahead every day. As little as simply getting information from them goes a long way, and we’re able to get whatever we need at any point we need that advice. They’ve been really helpful.”

At the event, City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre reinforced the broader civic necessity of dismantling structural barriers so that all emerging founders can contribute to regional growth.

“We need to make sure that entrepreneurs from every background have the opportunity to turn an idea into a business, build something of their own, create jobs, and contribute to our community and our economy,” he said. “That means supporting people who are ready to take that first step, but also recognizing that everyone needs to start from the same place.

“Sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t a lack of talent or lack of ambition; it’s a lack of access to capital, mentorship, networks, information, or simply having someone who believes in the market.

Lefebvre said that is why organizations like NOBEEP are important. “They contribute to breaking down these obstacles,” he said. “That matters not just for the entrepreneurs themselves; it matters for the entire community.”

Closing out the event, Nyabeze told the crowd he looked forward to NOBEEP’s next phase, economic independence and community integration.

“We want to have a generational impact,” he said. “We want to make sure that new immigrants coming to Sudbury who are Black are contributing to the development and growth of Northern Ontario. Often in some circles, you hear people concerned about immigrants coming in and taking rather than contributing.

“Black entrepreneurs are proving to this community that they are here to serve. Our Black entrepreneurs are cleaning homes, cleaning cars, running restaurants and running beauty parlours — they are doing so many things in this community and making it home.”

He said building capacity and connection is key to the work of NOBEEP., closing knowledge gaps for those who want to strike out on their own. “It’s amazing to see what happens when an entrepreneur learns a new way of doing business and builds the confidence to move forward.”

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com.