SSM Health strengthens Urban League of Greater Madison partnership with financial support
$100,000 donation to The Black Business Hub will support, encourage local black- and BIPOC-owned entrepreneurship opportunities
Madison, WI (Jan. 31, 2023) – SSM Health and Urban League of Greater Madison have long partnered on a variety of programs designed to support the needs of the community. Today, the health system donated $100,000 towards The Black Business Hub, which is ULGM’s new center dedicated to serving Black and BIPOC entrepreneurs as a business incubator and accelerator.
The investment in The Hub not only strengthens the two organization’s long-standing partnership, but it is also a new way in which SSM Health is able to invest directly in the community to address social determinants of health – the social factors that impact a person and community’s health far more than access to quality health care services.
“At SSM Health, we are continuing to invest in areas that can positively impact the overall health and wealth in our community,” says Sue Anderson, SSM Health Wisconsin Regional President. “We know that economic opportunity directly impacts the health of the families in our community. Supporting new, minority-owned businesses will help Madison as a whole. We are honored to deepen this investment with a valued partner like Urban League of Greater Madison.”
In addition to investing in the economic opportunities available to black and BIPOC community members, the investment in The Hub will also foster the development, acceleration and success of a more diverse supply chain in the Madison area. This means organizations, including SSM Health, can further invest in the success of minority-owned businesses and the overall economic health of our community.
“The partnership with SSM has grown to be a very valuable collaboration that has allowed us to help provide many opportunities to assist BIPOC citizens in business, with sustainable wage jobs, with important health information, and more. I am looking forward to new partnership opportunities when the doors of the Black Business Hub open,” said Dr. Ruben Anthony, Urban League of Greater Madison President and CEO.
The partnership between SSM Health and Urban League of Greater Madison has historically focused on elevating economic opportunity for Madison’s black and BIPOC community members. The two organizations have partnered on providing opportunities for jobs in health care through training programs for positions including Pharmacy Technicians and Healthcare Administration.
During the construction of SSM Health’s South Madison Campus, the two organizations together developed specific diversity goals that lead to 23.5% of the project’s work being completed by minority, women, disabled or veteran workers. The partnership also included awarding 8.5% of sub-contractor work to businesses in these categories. In both categories, the South Madison Campus far exceeded its goals.
Knowing the Urban League of Greater Madison’s long-standing track record of success is just one of the many reasons SSM Health is honored to further support this valued community partner and excited for the future opportunities The Black Business Hub will provide.
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About SSM Health
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s nearly 40,000 employees and 11,000 providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 290 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 10 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
