When COVID-19 struck Philadelphia, the number of Black and Brown business owners fell by 68% from early March to July, compared to 44% of white businesses, creating a significant setback in the pursuit of racial equity in our local business landscape.

As growing economic inequalities and racial justice demonstrations converged, against the backdrop of a pandemic, The Enterprise Center in West Philadelphia presented a solution: the Pro Disinfect Coalition. The $1 million initiative’s aim? To transform traditional Black and brown janitorial and cleaning businesses into certified disinfectors positioned to receive investment and win new contracts in a COVID-19 world.

While Pro Disinfect seeks a very specific outcome, it simultaneously holds potential as a replicable and scalable model for racial equity as local stakeholders reimagine and rebuild Philadelphia’s $490 billion economy. Two nascent opportunities to increase capital access for local Black and brown businesses have yet to be fully realized — anchor institution procurement, and a growing impact investor community seeking to invest for racial justice in the Philadelphia region.

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