Funds will support expansion of its Small Business Navigator Program for Black and urban entrepreneurs. 
 
Tacoma, Washington—March 2, 2022—Tacoma Urban League [today] announces a $75,000 donation from KeyBank to bolster its Small Business Navigator Program, which is designed to support Black entrepreneurs expand their businesses. 
 
The funds will be used to provide services such as grant and loan application completion, technical support, coaching, mentoring and workshops to address other key skills.
 
The programs will be offered through the Tacoma Urban League’s Black Empowerment Center, which aims to increase the net worth of African Americans in Tacoma by offering culturally anchored classes, activities and services that strengthen financial capability. The Black Empowerment Center was founded on the premise that bridging the gap between the Black community in Tacoma and the public and private sectors will lead to greater civic engagement by African Americans, increase advocacy and support racial and cultural pride by participants. 
 
“KeyBank’s mission is to help our communities thrive, and nowhere is that more important than in underserved communities that often lack access to business expertise and funding,” says South Puget Sound Market President Brian Marlow. “We are delighted to partner with Tacoma Urban League as they support our neighbors who are creating opportunities for self-sufficiency and striving for economic independence.”
“The long-term impact of the Black Empowerment Center is to increase the net worth of African Americans in Tacoma,” said T’wina Nobles, President and CEO of Tacoma Urban League.  “The economic disparity for African Americans is so severe - which is why the Black Empowerment Center emphasizes assistance to Black people – the investment must match the problem. We are grateful for Key Banks’s partnership and understanding that we have so much more work to do.” 
The KeyBank Foundation has long engaged in philanthropic endeavors that support economic access and equity for underserved communities and populations. 
 
About KeyCorp 
KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $186.3 billion on December 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and  approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.