Greenville Leader

A national bank has announced that they will partner with state organizations in order to facilitate a new program aimed at helping minority-owned businesses.

Bank of America recently provided a $500,000 grant to three chamber of commerce organizations to South Carolina to reveal a statewide Minority Business Accelerator program. according to a BoA press release.

The program will be led by the Charleston, Columbia and Greenville Chambers and is expected to begin at the start of next year, the release said.

Kim Wilkerson, president, Bank of America South Carolina said the program would help cultivate a dynamic workforce for minority-owned businesses.

“Together with the Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville Chamber organizations, we are working to do our part to support minority-owned businesses, and we hope to encourage others as well,” Wilkerson said. “Here in South Carolina, Bank of America remains focused on creating opportunity in the areas of jobs, training, and workforce development as these areas are where systemic, long-term gaps have existed and where significant change is required to achieve sustainable progress.”

The Minority Business Accelerator backs and scales high-potential minority-owned businesses by providing targeted education and networking with a three-year strategic growth action plan. 

The program is associated with Bank of America's $1.25 billion five-year commitment that aims for racial equality, along with economic opportunities in local communities.

The Minority Business Accelerator began in 2012 in upstate South Carolina through the Greenville Chamber. The program will now expand the Midlands and Lowcountry markets.