TORONTO, June 25, 2020 /CNW/ - To continue to lend
support to women entrepreneurs, BMO Financial Group will be
evolving its BMO Celebrating Women program to introduce a new grant
program to help Canadian women entrepreneurs who have innovated
their businesses as a result of COVID-19.
Since the beginning of March 2020,
many non-essential businesses across the country have been affected
by pandemic-mandated closures to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
As many business owners prepare to reopen, BMO recognizes the
hardships women entrepreneurs in particular have faced during this
pandemic and wants to celebrate their innovative work.
BMO has established an advisory committee and judging panel
consisting of leaders from key strategic partner organizations and
additionally will be partnering with a third-party firm to lead the
selection process.
"Canadian business owners have been forced to adapt more quickly
than ever before and we recognize the many challenges they have
faced during this time," said Ernie
Johannson, Group Head, North American Personal and Business
Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal.
"This new grant program provides an opportunity to celebrate women
entrepreneurs and help them make real financial progress."
Since the beginning of March, BMO for Women has shared several
digital initiatives to help support women business owners
including:
- Online webinars on how to access capital and cash management,
business planning, and tax implications.
- Special editions of Bold(h)er, the BMO for Women podcast series
featuring experts discussing the impacts to business owners during
the pandemic.
- Online workshops focused on personal resiliency and dealing
with stress, financial management, relationship marketing,
strategic business planning, and more.
Full details on criteria and how to apply will be announced and
made available in early July at https://bmoforwomen.com/.
About BMO for Women
BMO is committed to supporting
initiatives that empower women within its workforce and the
communities the bank serves. BMO has partnered with organizations
such as the Women Presidents' Organization, GroYourBiz, Women
Business Enterprises, and Women Get On Board to provide expertise,
leadership, knowledge, and opportunities for women to network and
learn. In 2018, BMO announced $3
billion in capital available over three years specifically for
Canadian businesses owned by women. Through the only bank-owned
recognition program for women in North America – BMO
Celebrating Women – BMO celebrates successful women who have given
back to their communities or achieved success in business. Since
2012, BMO Celebrating Women has honoured more than 180 women in
communities across Canada and the United States.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for
200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial
services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North
America. With total assets of $987 billion as
of April 30, 2020, and a team of diverse and highly engaged
employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial
banking, wealth management and investment banking products and
services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business
through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking,
BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group