L’OREAL USA Partners to Launch Grant Program with NAACP

Moments that led to a fresh spark of the Black Lives Matter protests still lingers in the memories of many Americans, especially within black communities. Many organizations and celebrities have stepped up to the task of closing racial equity gaps in the US by creating initiatives to show their support against racial injustice.

Beauty giant L’Oréal has also joined in the wagon of organizations supporting Black businesses and communities. The company recently announced that it will launch a new business program to support Black-owned brands. This includes partnering with the NAACP to create new initiatives to help the Black community.

The L’Oréal initiative is named The Inclusive Beauty Fund, which is targeted towards providing one-time grants worth $10,000 to Black business owners in the beauty sector.

“As the leading beauty company in the United States, we believe that we have a responsibility to invest in the small business owners and entrepreneurs who are the lifeblood of our dynamic beauty industry,” said Angela Guy, chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, L’Oréal USA, in a press statement.

“We are proud to team up with the NAACP to advance our shared mission of creating a more inclusive and equitable world during this time of great economic vulnerability for so many. We hope the Inclusive Beauty Fund will introduce us to entrepreneurs in the beauty industry that we can build strong relationships with well into the future.”

According to L’Oréal’s chief strategy owner, Yumeka Rushing, Black-owned small beauty businesses form the backbone of Black neighborhoods, and there was a great need to support these businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The partnership with the NAACP will help these Black entrepreneurs ensure the “longevity of the services and community their businesses provide.”

In addition to the one-time funding, the beauty company will also provide recipients with professional mentorship and business development support. Participation will include top executives from the company’s leading beauty brands and its professional distributor SalonCentric. Additional initiatives will also be introduced in the future.

Grants are open until February 18. Interested applicants will have to fill and submit a form. Winners will be announced in April 2021. To apply, visit: Hello Alice. The Grants are available to both new and existing Black-owned beauty businesses, including salons, barbershops, spas, haircare specialists, beauty schools, makeup artists, stylists, and startup founders.