10 BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AWARDED $1 MILLION IN MARKETING VALUE AND IN-KIND MEDIA DURING AWARDS CEREMONY AT IHEARTMEDIA CHICAGO STUDIOS
10 Winners Also Receive Small Business Development Training from Chicago Urban League
iHeartMedia Chicago’s 107.5 WGCI, Chicago’s #1 for Hip-Hop R&B; V103, Today’s R&B and Throwbacks; Inspiration 1390, Music of Power & Praise; 93.9 LITE FM, Relaxing Favorites, ROCK 95 FIVE, Chicago’s Rock Station; 103.5 KISS FM, Chicago’s #1 Hit Music Station; and Chicago’s BIN 640 AM, announced today 10 winners of the “Brilliantly Black Business Awards” presented by Wintrust Financial Corporation in partnership with the Chicago Urban League. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 28 at 2:30 p.m. at the iHeartMedia Chicago Sound Studios.
In June 2020, iHeartMedia Chicago launched “Brilliantly Black” as a community resource initiative to support local Black-owned businesses, restaurants and non-profits. Each radio station encouraged listeners to visit its website and enter keyword “brilliant” to get more information about Black-owned businesses and community resources. Since its inception, iHeartMedia Chicago has showcased nearly 1400 Black-owned businesses through digital, on-air features and the “Brilliantly Black” podcast.
Local businesses and listeners had the opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Black-owned business in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana between June 29 and September 4. A total of 10 winners have been selected to receive $100,000 of in-kind media on iHeartMedia Chicago radio stations and a small business development cohort from the Chicago Urban League.
“In 2020, iHeartMedia Chicago created the first of its kind, ‘Brilliantly Black’ community resource initiative in response to the pandemic,” said Matt Scarano, President of iHeartMedia Chicago. “We expanded the initiative in 2022 and awarded 10 local Black-owned businesses a combined total of $1 million in marketing value and in-kind media to support the economic growth and development of their businesses in partnership with the Chicago Urban League. We are thrilled to announce our 2023 ‘Brilliantly Black Business Award’ Winners with heartfelt thanks to our presenting sponsor Wintrust Financial Corporation.”
“The ‘Brilliantly Black Business Award’ was the catalyst that opened the floodgates to our success and momentum,” said Lisa L. Marsh, Founder and CEO of�Ms. P’s Gluten Free�and 2022 ‘Brilliantly Black Business Award’ Winner. “The award shined a bright light on our emerging business, assisted us in being selected as a winner of the ‘BMO Celebrating Women’ Grant Program, and a successful launch in Mariano’s.� We also won ‘The Nextdoor Kind Foundation Grant and the ‘BeyGOOD Foundation’ Grant.”
“The Chicago Urban League is dedicated to providing Black-owned businesses with the�resources needed�to grow,�thrive, and contribute to the economy,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “We�commend iHeartMedia Chicago on the second year of the ‘Brilliantly Black Business Awards,’ and we�are delighted to continue our partnership to support�Black entrepreneurs.”
For more information on the 10 winners of the “Brilliantly Black Business Awards” visit each station’s website: 107.5 WGCI, V103, Inspiration 1390, 93.9 LITE FM, ROCK 95 FIVE, 103.5 KISS FM and Chicago’s BIN 640 AM.