RESEARCH

Facilitate the purchase of companies by African American and Hispanic/Latinx business professionals

Prepared by:  Southland Development Authority

2020

Summary

The Diversifying Ownership Pilot (DOP) aims to facilitate the purchase of companies by African American and Hispanic/Latinx business professionals. The pilot’s primary objectives are to help African American and Hispanic/Latinx entrepreneurs acquire established businesses and support these entrepreneurs as they scale these businesses into high growth companies.

This pilot presents attractive opportunities for all stakeholders. For business owners in Cook County’s South Suburbs, it provides a “liquidity event” to cash out on the value of their company. For diverse professionals, it provides a path to business ownership and an opportunity to affect real economic growth in the south suburbs sub-region. For investors, it is an opportunity to achieve market-rate investment returns while also making a positive social and economic impact in underserved communities…