The Northern Ontario Black Economic Empowerment Program (NOBEEP) is launching the Northern Ontario Business Settlement Service.

This is a new initiative designed to support Black entrepreneurs, investors, households, and business owners from outside Northern Ontario in exploring and establishing economic opportunities across this region.

This service marks a milestone in ongoing efforts to operate sustainably and

independently, reducing reliance on public and government funding, states a release from NOBEEP, demonstrating that Northern Ontario is open for business, and Black communities must be active participants in shaping and growing the regional economy, the release states.

“The NOBEEP Business Settlement Service is a program that serves as a bridge for connecting

people, potential, and prosperity,” said Charles Nana Yaw Kwarteng Bekai, NOBEEP’s head of business settlement services.

“As an individual who understands both the challenges and opportunities of starting fresh in a new region, it truly is an honour and a privilege to lead this initiative. Our clients are not only starting businesses, they are building legacies that will strengthen the economic and cultural fabric of Northern Ontario.”

NOBEEP’s Business Settlement Service provides culturally appropriate and client-centered support to help navigate the complexities of investing, launching, or relocating a business to Northern Ontario, states the release. Key features of the program include:

• Business startup guidance and coaching.
• Community and economic integration assistance.
• Connections to local service providers, municipalities, and development corporations.
• Access to a collaborative network of business owners, legal advisors, immigration professionals, and economic development organizations.

“We created this service to ensure that Black entrepreneurs are not left behind when it comes to accessing opportunities in Northern Ontario,” said NOBEEP CEO, Gina Gegeoju. “Business settlement can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Through NOBEEP, we’re creating a space where our clients feel seen, supported, and strategically connected to succeed.”

The release also states that NOBEEP will also work alongside a variety of regional and local partners — including Community Futures Development Corporations, Regional Business Centres, immigrant-serving agencies, and private sector firms — to ensure a seamless and well-supported business settlement experience.

Find more information here. Services are offered bilingually in English and French.