Skip to content

Minority Business Initiative

In February 2022, the BNP announced the first 5 participants in their new Minority-Owned Business Initiative (MBI).  This initiative seeks to help break through the barriers that have historically challenged minority business ownership and create a pathway to board membership for participants. By giving minority-owned businesses greater access to BNP’s resources, the program’s underwriters aim to help multiply the participant’s success.

Read the MBI launch press release here>

Meet our first Cohort

Kiper Moving and Transportation

Deidre Batson Griggs is president of Kiper Moving and Transportation, a company she founded with her husband Dante that offers a full range of residential and commercial moving services, including long-distance and international moving.

Strickly Business Safety Solutions, LLC

Darrin Strickland is the founder and CEO of Strickly Business Safety Solutions, LLC, a Buffalo-based company providing health and safety preparedness programs and services to clients across New York State.

Blanc Photographie

Yves-Richard Blanc first started taking photographs when he was 15. It quickly became his passion and, after earning a degree in commercial photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, he turned that passion into a career of 30-plus years.

Right Fit Recruiting, LLC

For more than two decades, Thaddeus Dunn has recruited and placed executive-level professionals in positions across the country, in industries from medical and financial to non-profit and education. Now, he has established Right Fit Recruiting, LLC here in Buffalo Niagara, bringing his expertise to the local business community with added measures of personalized service and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in executive roles.

Be part of the next phase

With the success of our first cohort, we are excited to announce that we will soon be accepting applications for the program's next phase.

Interested in participating in the next cohort?  Download our Fact Sheet to learn more>

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

From the Blog

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership announces first 5 participants in their Minority-Owned Business Initiative

By cciccarelli@thepartnership.org | February 11, 2022

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP) has a long-standing commitment to promote a diverse and inclusive business climate in the WNY region. To further this commitment, BNP has joined forces with Bank of America and National Grid to create an underwriting fund to sponsor BNP memberships as part of their new Minority-Owned Business Initiative.

Read More

Introducing Minority-Owned Business Initiative Participant: Blanc Photographie

By cciccarelli@thepartnership.org | February 10, 2022

Yves-Richard Blanc first started taking photographs when he was 15. It quickly became his passion and, after earning a degree in commercial photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, he turned that passion into a career of 30-plus years.

Read More