Nneka’s Story

Photo Permission: Nneka Brown-Massey

Nneka Brown-Massey, Innovation Supplies Worldwide
Tulsa, OK

I started my business four years ago with small loans through fintech providers, which I have paid back slowly and diligently as my sales came through. I run a school supplies business, and work with at-risk youth in my community. When COVID hit in the Spring and caused everyone to go to online classes, my sales dropped at least 60 percent. I was hopeful we would come together and beat this virus through the Spring so that schools could safely reopen in the Fall and my business would return - but poor leadership, low testing rates and even a denial that this was a big deal has meant my seasonal business is seeing another season of low-to-no sales.

I immediately applied for both the PPP and EIDL small business programs in April when they opened. After months of no communication, in June I was told I was denied from both for “credit reasons.” I felt racially profiled. I have had to lay off my employee, and I do not see that position returning until this pandemic is over and sales return.

I was forced to establish a new relationship with a bank to make these applications because the bank I previously worked with closed their only branch in my town, forcing me to drive over an hour and half to reach a branch. I decided to move from Columbus, GA to Tulsa to be closer to the services I needed - being in a rural area was making the process too difficult. I also moved to access resources from the Tulsa Remote Program, which was the only support I’ve gotten, and were so necessary for keeping me in my business, as small as they were.

As a Black veteran and a mother I feel that I have fallen through the financial cracks. I’ve served my country, but it has not taken my challenges into account when trying to support small businesses. These programs were not designed to help me. Without support, I’m scraping by, not able to grow, stuck in hover mode. 

We need support urgently, and it can’t be in loans. Grants would change my life and my business. And there must be transparency on who gets them, how you apply and support to do so.