In the summer of 2006, two young girls from Weymouth, Digby Co., sat at a stand selling lemonade on a hot day. They hoped they would raise enough money to buy a trampoline.

But this was not your typical lemonade stand.

The two six-year-olds had borrowed $50 in capital from the Black Business Initiative (BBI) under the youth-focused Business is Jammin' program. They surpassed their goal and earned enough to buy a swimming pool for their backyard. They paid back their loan and started on the path of being successful entrepreneurs.

The Black Business Initiative believes this strategy is the key to continuing a vibrant, black business community in the future.

"Working with the youth and seeing them develop over the years and become the future business leaders in our community; we'd be very pleased to see that happen," says Gordon Doe, director of Business Development.

Nova Scotia's entrepreneurial spirit has always been strong. However, like in many other places in Canada and the United States, there are some unique challenges facing Nova Scotia's black communities in metro and rural areas.

In recognition of these challenges, the Black Business Initiative was created to enhance the presence of the black community in a variety of high-tech, manufacturing, tourism and cultural business sectors.