Originally Published: October 27, 2020 Pepsi has announced that The National Urban League is launching the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program which is expected to boost approximately 500 Black-owned businesses over the next five years.

The PepsiCo Foundation is providing a $10 million grant to fund the program. The money will provide current and aspiring Black restaurateurs with access to the necessary capital, training, mentorship, and other services that are needed to run a successful business.

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James Sylvester says he's ready to cast his ballot during early voting. We are voting to help communities get better." He won't have to drive to a polling location. Instead he's getting a free ride to vote.

Since October 19, the Urban League of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach, FL) has several buses driving through neighborhoods for eight hours a day.

They're driving voters to a nearby polling location.

Latoya Stevenson greets voters on the West Palm Beach bus. "We go up and down Australian, 45th street, the Tamarind area so we take those voters in the Downtown West Palm Beach area to the polls. She says it's important for people to vote. "It's extremely important, it's a way for us to communicate and share our voice with those who are in office."

There's also a bus driving voters in other cities.

Election Day is nearly one week away and on Saturday across Southeastern Wisconsin, communities were taking every opportunity to get more voters on board and to the polls early.

In Kenosha, the family of Jacob Blake led the charge with their organization, Justice for Jacob, marching from Civic Center Park to City Hall, where early voting is underway.

Members of historically black fraternities and sororities spread that same message in Milwaukee, coming together for a march hosted by the Milwaukee Urban League (Milwaukee, WI).

President and CEO of the Urban League, Eve Hall said voting is about more than our rights, it’s how we can improve inequities in society.

“We know that votes mean action and it let’s people know that individuals are concerned,” Hall said.

To read the full article, click here.

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PURCHASE, NY, Oct. 20, 2020 -- The National Urban League and PepsiCo joined forces to create the Black Restaurant Accelerator, which will boost approximately 500 Black-owned businesses over the next five years. The PepsiCo Foundation is providing a $10 million grant to fund the program, which will provide current and aspiring Black restaurateurs with access to capital, training, mentorship and other support services that are necessary for business success.