Jobs, Healthcare, and Education Resources for the African American Community

President Obama is deeply committed to securing the future prosperity of the African American community, whether through investing in underserved communities or closing education achievement gaps. In accordance with the Administration's vision, winning the future for African Americans means addressing the community's specific needs with the right resources. To bring economic relief and equal opportunity, the following list contains resources and websites we'd like to highlight--resources that promote job creation, increase access to higher education, and help out in healthcare coverage.

Spurring Jobs and Small Businesses: In these difficult economic times, reducing unemployment and a balanced approach to deficit reduction is at the top of our list. A key role to turning the economy around is investing in small businesses in underserved, low-income areas:

• Federal grants for businesses are available from the Minority Business Development Agency and the Small Business Administration
• The U.S. Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund has a program in which community banks give loans to small business owners in underserved communities
• In addition, the U.S. Treasury provides general investment in small businesses through the Small Business Lending Fund.

Providing Healthcare for Your Family: Getting proper medical coverage is especially important for families and seniors in financial need.

• Learn more about how youth and young adults can now receive healthcare for an extended amount of time, or how seniors may have received a $250 rebate check to pay for their prescription at Healthcare.gov
• The Office of Minority Health works to reduce health disparities, in accordance to the specific needs of the African American community.

Student Loans and Higher Education: Learn more about how we're investing in education for youths and leaders of the future.

• The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Learn how to get a PELL grant, and receive the funding you need for college
• Federal Student Aid has an income-based repayment plan
• The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program encourages individuals to become employed in public service

Urban Development: We also provide relief for families struggling to pay the rent or striving for a safer, violence-free environment for their kids to grow up in.

• The Department of Housing and Urban development can help you find housing counseling agencies and rental assistance for your apartment.
• Learn more about efforts for a stronger, more sustainable community to live, work, and play with better environmental quality and transportation.

Michael Blake is Deputy Associate Director of African American Outreach and Small & Minority Business Outreach for the Office of Public Engagement.