We are a finalist!

What is your project?

From a young woman developing a cup share to immigrant women upcycling clothing, the success of the green recovery hinges on opening doors for a diversity of entrepreneurs. There are inequalities in income and earnings for newcomer entrepreneurs while being a green entrepreneur comes with its own challenges. As we build the COVID 19 recovery, this project aims to ensure that we do not carry over those inequalities. Newcomers bring excellent experience that could contribute innovation and energy to our recovery. Newcomers are also disproportionately impacted by climate change. We cannot afford to allow barriers to impede newcomers from contributing to and benefiting from our green recovery.

We will engage a diversity of newcomer entrepreneurs, community partners, financial institutions, and governments to identify strengths and challenges of existing finance and business programs. We will identify and test ways to improve access and success for newcomers in the green economy in Victoria. We will profile success stories to raise awareness of newcomer businesses in Victoria’s green and just recovery and amplify factors in their success. Finally, we will link this initiative to other green and just recovery initiatives to broaden dialogues about inclusion.

How does your project benefit newcomers in Victoria? 

Our project, Active Inclusion in the Green Recovery (AIGR) benefits newcomers by centering the lived experience of newcomer entrepreneurs in the green economy to inform and test solutions to already established barriers and enable greater access and success. The project will also benefit newcomers by creating an employment position with mentorship. It will build more connections for newcomer entrepreneurs to service providers and support agencies as well as bringing together newcomer entrepreneurs to build community through shared experience. Finally, by sharing empowering stories of hope through the digital campaign, the project will increase the visibility of newcomers participating in the green economy, countering stereotypes and offering more sustainable entrepreneurship role models to the newcomer community.

Thank you for your support in this years vote!