About Us
Who We Are
Tropicana Community Services
Tropicana Community Services (Tropicana), a Toronto-based multi-service organization that provides programming for youth and adults, newcomers, and people of Black and Caribbean heritage is a member of the National Funders Network for the Government of Canada through the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI). In that capacity, Tropicana contributes to increasing the capacity of grassroots not-for-profit organizations serving Black communities.
Following the creation of the SBCCI program in 2020 and during its first and second call for proposals in 2021 and 2022, Tropicana was able to allocate a total of $5,773,427.85 in funding to 180 NPOs across the country (excluding Quebec) who applied for grants towards capacity-building initiatives. In March 2023, responding to the need to assist more organizations that had submitted eligible projects during the second call for proposals, Tropicana funded 28 additional organizations, distributing a total of $1,256,474.69 in grants. Considering the need for continued improvement, 133 existing organizations were also supported with $5,985,000.00 in additional grants to continue their organization’s capacity-building efforts.
Therefore, from 2020 up to March 2023 and thanks to ESDC through the SBCCI, Tropicana, as one of the National Funders, disbursed a total of $13,014,902.54 to 208 projects and provided additional funds to 133 existing sub-agreement holders projects, representing a total of 341 Black organizations. We are looking forward to continuing this work which has benefited our communities across Canada.
www.tropicanacommunity.org
The Black Business Initiative
The Black Business Initiative (BBI) is a Canadian organization that was established in 1996 by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia to support the unique needs of Nova Scotia’s Black business community. Over time, the organization has evolved into a vital player in the promotion of economic growth, equitable participation, and job creation across Canada.
At BBI, we provide comprehensive support to Black entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey, from startup and development to growth and expansion. Our mission is to help our clients compete effectively in the national and international business landscape.
As one of the four intermediaries administering the SBCCI Capacity Building Grant, we have been able to fund over 360 projects by Black-led and Black-serving organizations across Canada, with a total investment of more than $12.7 million since 2021. In addition to funding, we also offer wrap-around support services to our sub-agreement holders (funded organizations), which include training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, worth over $2.4 million through our BBI-SBCCI Wrap-Around Service Grant.
Moreover, we recognize that cybersecurity is a growing concern for businesses, especially for those who operate online, and we have taken steps to address this issue. As a result, we have awarded the BBI-SBCCI Cyber Security Grant to 93 of our sub-agreement holders (funded organizations), totaling over $1.8 million.
Overall, BBI is committed to driving economic growth, promoting equity and inclusivity, and supporting Black entrepreneurs, businesses and Black not-for-profit organizations in Canada.
www.bbi.ca
Groupe 3737
Groupe 3737 is the largest and most successful technology incubator/accelerator in the North East of Montréal with more than 30 incubated companies and innovative start-ups. We focus on innovation and continuous education and development. Since inception—we have created more than 150 high-value jobs in one of the poorest boroughs in Canada.
www.groupe3737.com
The Africa Centre
The Council for Advancement of African Canadians in Alberta, widely known as the Africa Centre, is the largest Black-led not-for-profit organization in western Canada. The Africa Centre serves as a hub that provides programming and access services from a place of cultural awareness and competency for individuals and families. Our mandate is to build a thriving community of African Canadians in Alberta with full access and participation in our programs and services. The Africa Centre offers programs and services that address the needs of the Black community. Our mission is to promote full access and participation of community members to ensure a strong, relevant, and engaged African diaspora in Alberta. We are proud to say that we are a community hub that caters to all aspects of need within the Black community.
www.africacentre.ca