The BIPOC Loan Fund, CIC, and Startup Tucson Announce BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day and FORGE Grant Award with Community Celebration
Tucson, AZ — The BIPOC Loan Fund and Community Investment Corporation (CIC) are proud to announce the one-year anniversary of BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day, officially proclaimed on May 1, 2024, by City of Tucson Mayor, Regina Romero, the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and recognized as part of the State of Arizona’s Small Business Week. This milestone marks a year of intentional recognition and support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners who continue to shape Arizona’s economic landscape with resilience and innovation.
To celebrate, the BIPOC Loan Fund, CIC, and Startup Tucson will host Startup Drinks: The BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day Edition, a free community networking event honoring BIPOC entrepreneurship on Thursday, May 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Slow Body Beer. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, supporters, and the BIPOC Loan Fund Committee for an evening of networking and celebration. Members of Southern Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community are encouraged to attend, connect, and share their journeys.
Adding to the celebration, on May 1, the BIPOC Loan Fund was honored to receive a $65,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (FORGE Fund). This award places the BIPOC Loan Fund among 21 grassroots and community-led organizations selected for their efforts to advance racial, gender, and economic equity across the state. In challenging systemic inequities in the business and lending sectors, the FORGE Fund prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and those serving BIPOC, women, and gender-expansive communities. Spearheaded by an all-BIPOC Committee, businesses funded by the BIPOC Loan Fund include some of the following:
- Grassrootz Bookstore (Phoenix) – Arizona’s only Black-owned bookstore, juice bar, and community hub.
- Keep on Zenning (Tucson) – A BIPOC-led Art Therapy, Counseling, and Consulting business.
- Old Pueblo Hemp Co. (Tucson) – A sustainability-forward business specializing in hempcrete and natural building.
Since its inception, the BIPOC Loan Fund has provided accessible capital to Arizona-based BIPOC-owned small businesses, addressing generational barriers to entrepreneurship and investment with low-interest loans, character-based applications, and support throughout the financing process.
Join us on May 22 to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and celebrate the vibrant accomplishments of Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community.
Event Details:
Slow Body Beer: 831 E 17th St, Tucson, AZ 85719
Thursday, May 22, 2025
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Free to attend. All are welcome. Limited space, registration required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-drinks-bipoc-entrepreneurs-day-edition-tickets-1316948992889?aff=oddtdtcreator
About CIC
Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is a nonprofit economic development organization that helps underserved communities gain access to the capital and support they need to thrive. Through creative financing and community-centered partnerships, CIC helps build an Arizona where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Click here to download the press release.
