Metro 1 gives back to businesses in our neighborhood facing COVID-19 hardships

In April 2020, just weeks after launching M1 Community, the new philanthropic arm of Metro 1, our team was faced with tremendous needs from across the city due to the effects of COVID-19. We chose to respond by creating the Little Haiti Small Business Relief Fund, which would provide microgrants to the small business owners of Little Haiti struggling to keep the lights on due to pandemic shutdowns.

For us, protecting Little Haiti was a natural choice. It is a neighborhood that we have been doing business in and committed to for more than 15 years. It is one of our city’s cultural gems, preserving much of Miami’s Caribbean history and heritage. And, it was a neighborhood that we knew would be potentially overlooked by other relief efforts. 

Combining forces with key non-profit partners United Way of Miami-Dade, The Miami Foundation, Branches, Sant La, and the Black Professionals Network, we were able to raise $75,000 and distribute 15 microgrants to small businesses. See below for the recap of our work.

Just a few of the small businesses that were helped through the Little Haiti Small Business Relief Fund