Glaring gaps exist in access to capital for Black and Latinx businesses. In Eastern Massachusetts, this equates to a $250 million gap in lending (US Census Small Business Credit Survey Report on Minority Firms). To address this, FBE incubated the Business Equity Fund at the Boston Foundation to provide growth capital. Since its inception, the fund has doubled in size and has deployed more than $2 million into Black and Latinx businesses. Additionally, we’ve partnered with other sources of capital, such as Berkshire Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, to deploy debt capital through Mills Cities Community Investments (MCCI). FBE ecosystem partners have deployed $12 million to BEI Participating Enterprises.