COVID-19 has brought on a number of financial challenges that yielded economic consequences.

In an effort to absolve minority-owned small businesses of their financial burdens brought on by the pandemic, Hennessy has launched Unfinished Business, a recovery fund to aid in getting them the resources needed to get back on their feet, according to a press release.

“Built for community by community, Unfinished Business is an extension of our legacy supporting multicultural consumers and underscores our ‘Never stop. Never settle.’ ethos,” said Giles Woodyer, Senior Vice President, Hennessy US. “We want to do all that we can to help the small businesses survive the current crisis and pledge resources for the long term; as long as they have unfinished business to settle, so do we.”

The fund will donate to small business entrepreneurs and continuously replenish funds so donations are more than a one-time occasion.

“Hennessy has always valued the spirit of resilience and this is what these small businesses represent,” said Laurent Boillot, Chief Executive Officer, Hennessy. “We do not want these pillars of community to succumb to the current global pandemic and are offering our support to help them continue pushing forward.”

As far as immediate actions, Hennessy enlisted three national organizations — Black Men of New York, Asian American Business Development Center, and Hispanic Federation — to distribute funds to places that were already working with local businesses in their respective communities.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the nation’s small business community, and in many cases Unfinished Business will provide much needed support and assistance,” said Michael J. Garner, President of Founding Chapter, One Hundred Black Men of New York. “The Founding Chapter of One Hundred Black Men applauds Hennessy for recognizing that small businesses are the soul of America.”

Even after quarantine ends, there will still be much of our economy to repair, but with initiatives like Unfinished Business, we can get a head start to come out of COVID-19 in better shape than before.

For more information on Unfinished Business, click here.