South Atlanta News

The Atlanta Dream and Starbucks Coffee Company have announced a partnership to support minority-owned small businesses in Atlanta. This collaboration will work with ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs to provide financial support through the Atlanta Dream Collective.

Starbucks, as a Proud Supporting Partner of the Atlanta Dream Collective, aims to help small businesses enhance their brand presence at Atlanta Dream games and connect them with fans. The initiative focuses on women and BIPOC-owned businesses in the community.

"The Atlanta Dream Collective was created to support and foster the entrepreneurial spirit of minority business owners in Atlanta," said Laila Brock, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and community impact for the Dream. "We are excited to partner with Starbucks, one of the nation’s most recognizable brands that originally started as a small business, to help fuel small businesses in our community."

Starbucks' involvement is part of its Community Resilience Fund, which aims to advance opportunity, equity, and inclusion. In 2021, Starbucks committed $100 million to this fund, focusing on supporting small businesses and community development projects in BIPOC neighborhoods.

"Since our beginning, we have been driven by our belief in the limitless power of human connection," said Kelly Goodejohn, chief social impact officer at Starbucks. "That’s why we have made a promise to contribute positively to every community we serve."

ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs will distribute funds and implement programming under this partnership. Martina Edwards, chief of strategic partnerships and incoming CEO of ACE stated: "We are pleased to be the beneficiary of the Starbucks-Atlanta Dream partnership... ACE stands in support of women and minority business owners by removing barriers to affordable capital which helps them realize their dreams."

For more information about these organizations:

- Visit starbucks.com for details on Starbucks Coffee Company.

- Visit aceloans.org for details on Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

- Visit dream.wnba.com/atlanta-dream-collective/ for details on the Dream Collective.