Partner to Empower is a program dedicated to helping break down the systemic racial barriers that members of our communities face. To support furthering equity in retail, we help business owners of color, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander Americans, open brick-and-mortar stores in our malls by providing:
A tailored, four-week Retail Workshop led by industry insiders
Networking opportunities with retail experts and other growing businesses
One-on-one mentorship and business planning
Store opening support, including lease guidance and funding opportunities
Success story: Behind the scenes at Dessert Beauty & Cosmetics
Our program at a glance
260+
businesses have graduated from the Retail Workshop
280+
hours of Retail Workshop learning across 7 cohorts
65+
stores have signed a retail lease with us
Applications will open again in 2025!
Stay up to date on the latest program news, and application windows, or check out our resource page for retail tips in the meantime.
Is this program right for you?
We’re looking for business owners of color, including but not limited to Black, indigenous, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander Americans, that:
Are interested in opening a store or restaurant within the Brookfield Properties U.S. mall portfolio.
Are available to attend the Retail Workshop, our virtual, expert-led course on all things business and brick-and-mortar retail.
Want to sign a license agreement — ideally for a minimum of two years.
Have the correct funding to support their business operations outside of any funding the program may provide for eligible store build-out expenses.
Retail workshop
Our four-week virtual Retail Workshop is a master class on all things business and brick-and-mortar retail. Led by industry experts, the workshop will cover topics such as building business plans, business banking, marketing, staffing, store operations, leadership, and more — and the best part: it's included at no cost for all accepted applicants. Accepted applicants can select which Retail Workshop session they would like to attend:
July 8 - August 2
September 23 - October 18
Funding
Partner to Empower funding opportunities are considered on a case-to-case basis for expenses associated with the build-out and construction of a physical store within a Brookfield Properties mall.