Celebrating Black Business Month and Comcast RISE

Comcast is committed to amplifying diverse voices, advancing equity and fostering inclusion. August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role Black-owned businesses play in our local communities and overall economy.

For the last two and a half years, small businesses have been dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the economic repercussions that resulted. In particular, Black-owned businesses declined by 41% during the first few months of the pandemic versus just 21% for the general population according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. That’s one of the reasons why in late 2020 we launched Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” to invest in the success of these critical businesses by providing valuable and practical support and the resources necessary not just to survive, but thrive.

Through Comcast RISE, over 200 small businesses in New England have received consulting, media and creative production services or technology upgrades from Comcast Business and Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, to date. Click here to meet some of our local recipients.

Paul Savas, Vice President of Comcast Business in the Western New England Region, recently talked to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association’s BizCast team about Comcast RISE and why it’s important for small businesses to leverage technology. Watch the full interview, here:

To learn more about how this program is impacting businesses, you can also hear first-hand from Luc-Karl, Comcast Business’ Comcast RISE coordinator, and Comcast RISE recipients Inesta, who owns B&A Benefits Solutions in Waterbury, CT, and Michael, president of Give Music, Inc and founder of V3NU:846 in Springfield, MA.

Nominations for the program are currently being accepted through October 14, 2022, and we encourage you to apply at ComcastRISE.com.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. As part of Project UP, Comcast NBCUniversal has committed $1 billion over the next 10 years to reach tens of millions of people through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators. For additional information on Project UP and our other digital equity initiatives, including Internet Essentials, Lift Zones and more, visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.