The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) has awarded 11 grants, totaling $50,000 (€45,350), to some of its affiliate LGBT chambers of commerce.

The grants have been funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, and – according to a statement – will be spent on programs that ‘foster the development, growth, and sustainability of certified LGBT businesses enterprises.’

NGLCC affiliate chambers applied for grants ranging between $2,500-$10,000 (€2,267- €9,070).

The announcement came at the end of NGLCC’s annual International Business and Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last week.

‘We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Wells Fargo. They have been an incredible supporter of our programs and initiatives and I am proud to bring this opportunity to our affiliate chambers,’ said Justin Nelson, NGLCC Co-Founder & President, in a statement.

‘Wells Fargo has been with us from the beginning and their commitment to helping the LGBT business community is underscored by this exciting grant program.’

‘Wells Fargo has a rich history of supporting diverse chambers of commerce, and we share their commitment to helping small business owners succeed financially,’ said Lisa Stevens, Regional Marketing, Small Business and Pacific Midwest Bank Executive.

‘Through our partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), we are proud to provide funding that will support chamber-led entrepreneur training programs and dedicated resources for education, growth and advancement of diverse business owners in communities across America.’

One of the chambers of commerce to benefit from a grant was the Central Pennsylvania Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

‘The CPGLCC Business Development Program has become a vital resource to our LGBTBE members as they advance their businesses and engage in strategic planning,’ said Harry Young, CPGLCC President, accepting the organization’s grant for $2,500 (€2,267).

‘We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Wells Fargo and NGLCC which will allow us to expand and enrich our program.’

Another recipient was the Greater San Diego Business Association. Its CEO, Barbra Blake, told Gay Star Business: ‘We truly appreciate the recognition and support Wells Fargo and NGLCC have provided.

‘We will use this grant to implement the “Building Business Success Though LGBTBE Certification” program designed to stimulate LGBT business ownership and encourage aspiring LGBT entrepreneurs to obtain certification during the early stages of their business as an integral component of their business plan.’

The full list of chambers of commerce to benefit from the grants are as follows

Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Central Pennsylvania Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Golden Gate Business Association

Greater San Diego Business Association

Greater Seattle Business Association

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce

North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce

Quorum

Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley

Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Last year, Wells Fargo was ranked the eighth biggest company in the world by Forbes. The bank has approximately 265,000 employees in 36 countries, with around $1.7 trillion (€1.5 trillion) in assets.

It is recognized as a long-time supporter of LGBTI diversity and inclusion. It has consistently scored the top ranking of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for the past 12 years, and has a regular presence at Pride events across the US.

Earlier this year, it won plaudits for an advert (below) featuring a same-sex couple that were adopting a child.