Thurston’s BIPOC Business Task Force recommends support, growth strategies

Thurston County’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Business Task Force outlined its crucial recommendations, highlighting support for existing BIPOC businesses, new startups, and entrepreneurs.

BIPOC Business Community Liaison Mayra Pena of the Thurston County Economic Development Council shared the significant recommendations at a Lacey Commission on Equity meeting on Monday, Feb 26.

Pena said that while Thurston offers numerous resources in support of entrepreneurs, the task force believes that many minority groups face similar barriers of not being aware of resources.

“Having support networks of people who mirror one’s culture and ethnicity and understand one’s experiences and challenges can provide invaluable support and can help open doors to opportunity,” shared Pena.

Key overarching matters highlighted in the recommendations included the support for existing BIPOC businesses, facilitation of new BIPOC startups, and encouragement of young adult BIPOC participation in entrepreneurship.

The recommendations also delved into five major topics crucial for advancing BIPOC entrepreneurship: accessing capital, networking and mentorship, outreach strategies, support for young adults, and budget allocation.

To gather insights directly from BIPOC business owners, a survey was conducted over four months, from December 2022 to March 2022. The survey aimed to understand the challenges faced by BIPOC entrepreneurs in Thurston County and identify areas for improvement.

Pena said the Task Force's work involved a comprehensive assessment of the local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, including various organizations and resources available.

The task force, a collaborative effort between Thurston Strong and the Thurston EDC, aimed to address the challenges faced by BIPOC entrepreneurs in the region.