Hennessy has announced Unfinished Business, a new initiative committed to help small businesses power through the immediate financial challenges of COVID-19 and ensure they have the resources needed to get back on their feet. Several communities are bearing a disproportionate share of the health and/or economic consequences of this global crisis and these are the communities this initiative is aimed at supporting.

Benefits of the program include:

• Partnerships with the Asian American Business Development Center, the Hispanic Federation and One Hundred Black Men will ensure capital is distributed at the community-level.
• The initiative will provide ongoing access to information, educational content and other resources to safeguard business continuity during the crisis and beyond.
• To encourage applicants, Hennessy enlisted filmmaker Haley Anderson to lift the voices of seven minority small business owners, describing the current challenges they face, as well as the systemic issues this crisis has exacerbated.
• As an additional resource for small business owners, Hennessy will host IG Live sessions that offer commentary, advice and open Q&As with Unfinished Business partners, community experts, and more.

Beginning in June, the platform will donate to support small business entrepreneurs, with a vision to continuously replenish funds so that this first donation is not the last. In addition to capital, the initiative will also provide access to information, educational content and other assets to help safeguard continuity during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

“Hennessy has always valued the spirit of resilience and this is what these small businesses represent. 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,” said Laurent Boillot, Chief Executive Officer, Hennessy.

In order to provide immediate relief, Hennessy has enlisted three national organizations already working to support businesses in their respective communities. Unfinished Business will provide funds to One Hundred Black Men, the Asian American Business Development Center, and the Hispanic Federation to ensure support is distributed directly at the community-level among those who need it the most.

“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.”

“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. The Founding Chapter of One Hundred Black Men applauds Hennessy for recognizing that small businesses are the soul of America,” stated Michael J. Garner, President, Founding Chapter, One Hundred Black Men of New York.

“Small businesses represent the economic hope and promise of Latino neighborhoods. We are proud and grateful to join Hennessy in this groundbreaking effort to bring much-needed financial relief to businesses that are essential to restoring the economic well-being of our community,” said Frankie Miranda, President, Hispanic Federation.

There will always be Unfinished Business – long after the quarantine is over, informing Hennessy’s commitment to work with partners to sustain the initiative. In times of crisis and beyond, direct support won’t just reach small business: it will also strengthen surrounding communities through employment, positive role modeling, and an inflow of economic and cultural vibrancy.

“The Asian American Business Development Center, along with the Hispanic Federation and One Hundred Black Men, is honored to stand in solidarity with Hennessy to support small business,” said John Wang, President, AABDC.

As part of Unfinished Business, Hennessy will offset the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry with a pledge of $750,000 to an organization in support of bartenders and hospitality workers.

Eligible businesses can submit their applications from now, through Wednesday, July 1^st by visiting UnfinishedBusiness.US.
Visit https://www.hennessy.com/en-us/unfinished-business for more information.