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Title:

1000064

Agreement Number:

1000064

Agreement Value:

$2,000,000.00

Agreement Date:

Mar 7, 2022 - Dec 31, 2024

Description:

Ògo Tàwa Inc. initially submitted an application under the Black Entrepreneurship Program National Ecosystem Fund in December 2020 seeking $4,500,000 to develop and implement the Black Artist Entrepreneurship Program which consisted of three main components: Artrpreneur Program: Licensing an existing program from York Region, and customization of the program to provide tailored business training to Black artists E-commerce platform: Development of online e-commerce platform dedicated for Black artists to sell their wares. Portrait Sculpture Garden: Creation of accessible sculpture products and installation at University of Toronto’s St. George Campus. Given this element of the project did not align with the parameters of the Black Entrepreneurship Program National Ecosystem Fund, it was recommended and supported under the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) for a non-repayable contribution of $543,815. Ògo Tàwa Inc. is recommended for a non-repayable contribution of up to $2,000,000 to support its Black Artist Entrepreneurship project which includes two components: The Artrepreneur Program: The program will provide the tools for creative Black entrepreneurs and artists to develop fundamental business skills in order to improve their entrepreneurial abilities, leading to them advancing their business prospects as a result of education, access to resources and mentors, and to networks of creative leaders. E-commerce Platform : Using the Shopify platform, an online marketplace will be rapidly built to help Black artists in marketing their creations, scaling their arts sales, supplementing off-line arts sales, and generating additional revenues from online print sales of original works. Prints would be shipped throughout North America expanding the existing Artrepreneurs’ customer base. The project is expected to impact 450 Black visual artist entrepreneurs, primarily in the GTA, including 315 under the Artrepreneur program and 135 under E-commerce platform, with a minimum of 165 women entrepreneurs under the two components of the project. The project will also help to create 50 full time employment (FTE) positions and 11 part-time employment (PTE) positions.

Organization:

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Expected Results:

To support not-for-profit Black-led business organizations across Canada to develop new services or expand those they already offer such as mentorship, networking, financial planning, and business training for Black entrepreneurs.

Location:

NORTH YORK, Ontario, CA M3J 3K6

Reference Number:

062-2021-2022-Q4-00067

Agreement Type:

Contribution

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Recipient Business Number:

767197270

Recipient Type:

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Recipient's Operating Name:

Ogo Tawa

Recipient's Legal Name:

Ogo Tàwa Inc.

Federal Riding Name:

York Centre

Federal Riding Number:

35118

Program:

Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund

Program Purpose:

To strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs and business owners across Canada.

Coverage:

NAICS Code:

541611