FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT
BLACK INNOVATION ALLIANCE LAUNCHES NEW ‘DECLARATION ‘26: AN INNOVATION COUNTERPLAN TO PROJECT 2025’ DURING CBC WEEK
(WASHINGTON) – September 10, 2024 – The Black Innovation Alliance (BIA), a coalition dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap for Black entrepreneurs, today announced “Declaration ‘26: An Innovation Counterplan to Project 2025”, during the organization’s participation in Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) week, which included stops at the White House. A bold response to the conservative manifesto, Declaration ‘26 offers an array of policy strategies and catalytic actions aimed at creating the conditions for mass economic growth for Black entrepreneurs. Intentionally symbolizing the approaching 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; Declaration ‘26 draws inspiration from the past, while leaning boldly into a prosperous future where the American Dream is accessible to all.
Off the heels of a dynamic Democratic National Convention where the Harris-Walz campaign touted their plans for building a new Opportunity Economy if elected, Declaration ‘26 argues that for opportunity to be more than a word, equipping Black and underserved entrepreneurs—often the economic connective tissue within their communities—must be a national priority.
The report outlines a series of key priorities for policymakers to help build an equitable future, including targeted place-based capital allocations, enhancing existing federal grant programs to reach broader entrepreneurial needs, and creating what BIA has termed “The University Consortium on the Future” —a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary think and action tank to build a truly powerful digitally-enabled entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Declaration ‘26 agenda rests on three key assumptions: that rampant inequality is unsustainable, investing in America’s growth engines is essential, and fostering innovation in “innovation deserts” is crucial for balanced and inclusive growth. Economic inequality in the United States has reached alarming levels, with the U.S. outpacing other developed nations in income disparity. Addressing this requires targeted investments in areas that have historically driven economic growth, namely, America’s cities and regions that have been left behind.
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we must confront the challenges of our time and recommit to building a future economy that reflects the ideals of our founding document,” shared Kelly Burton, CEO of the Black Innovation Alliance. “Designed as a counterpunch to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 transition playbook, Declaration ‘26 offers a fresh new lens and outlines a comprehensive strategy for the next administration to address the rampant inequality that still remains in our nation, invest in America’s growth engines, and revitalize regions left behind. By fostering an inclusive economy where prosperity is broadly shared, we can uphold the spirit of the Declaration and ensure that the American Dream becomes a reality and is within reach for all.”
Declaration ‘26 continues the drumbeat of BIA’s “Decade of Black Innovation” —a mission-focused campaign seeking to shift the conditions which prevent wealth for Black entrepreneurs. The report will be presented during the week of the 53rd annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.
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About Black Innovation Alliance
The Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) is a coalition of 175 member organizations closing the racial wealth gap by building pathways that provide equitable access to resources, knowledge, and opportunities to Black entrepreneurs, innovators, tech founders and creative technologists.
