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News, Resources & More For and About Black-Owned Businesses |
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When COVID-19 created an overnight demand for personal protection equipment in the U.S., boutique owner Alexis Williams quickly pivoted her business model from clothing and jewelry to also offering washable African-print masks. And while Williams’ business, Aloha Glamour, enjoyed a viral success by selling the reversible, cotton face masks, she never anticipated how her achievement would impact other Black women on the other side of the world.
Lydia Gibson, creator of Eva Jenae Naturals, is driven by the belief that nature provides all we need to achieve our healthiest skin and hair. Every ingredient she uses has a purpose and delivers results. Her brand is proof that skin and hair care can be simple, yet effective.
Perfectly Hued Expressions, a Black woman-owned business, is celebrating children with melanin-rich skin tones with a new line of greeting cards. Established in 2018 by entrepreneurs Kateena Thomas and Latisha Armstrong, their company set out to fix the glaring problem of a lack of diversity in the greeting card industry. Their solution was to introduce to the market high-quality, fun and stylish products that mirror the beautiful hues of diverse little ones. The unique greeting card brand and stationery line was created for, and inspired by, kids of color!
Cartier Carey, an 11-year old entrepreneur from Hampton, Virginia, spent his free time during the summer selling lemonade. His goal was to raise money to buy diapers, wipes, and other supplies for parents, particularly single mothers, who were struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance Whiskey, a Tennessee-based whiskey brand owned by African American entrepreneur Jason Ridgel, has signed a historic partnership deal with a Kentucky-based Black-owned distributor that expands its availability to 50 stores. Since then, their company sales have increased exponentially.
The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (ChicagoMSDC) has announced the appointment of J. Vincent Williams as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. He is the fifth President in more than 50 years of the Council’s history.
Gia Casey, DJ Envy’s wife of 19 years, has gifted him with a stake in a Black-owned bottled water company, Positivity Alkaline Water LLC, a subsidiary of StarWalker Industries LLC, is founded by Atlanta Business Attorney David M. Walker, Esq.
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| Top Black Business Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars: |
Every year, many Black business conferences are held across the country that specifically cater to established or aspiring African American business owners, professionals, authors, bloggers, and more. Literally thousands of people travel to network and do business at such events. These events are usually held in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and New York, and typically include extensive training workshops, powerful speeches, power networking sessions, grand hall expos, and more. [Find an event to attend...]
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| Top Black and Minority Business Grants and Funding Opportunities: |
From time to time, there are Black and minority business grants available to help African American and other minority entrepreneurs. Sometimes, they grants are offered by major companies, non-profit organizations, and even government agencies. Admittedly, such opportunities can be very difficult to find as many have been discontinued. Others in the past were offered as one or two year programs and did not renew. Despite this, such opportunities are real and are more often offered through local programs compared to national. [Get funded...]
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| Top Black and Minority Business Organizations: |
There are many non-profit Black and Minority business organizations that aim to be of assistance to African American business owners. They are very helpful resources that offer valuable assets including grants, seminars, literature, consulting, and professional networking opportunities. There are also several government agencies that aim to assist minority business owners, including Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and even women of all ethnic backgrounds. [Find the right organization for you...]
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| Top Black Business Magazines, Publications and Blogs: |
Believe it or not, there are hundreds of Black business magazines - that is, business-focused magazines that target African American readers. There are also many publications that are focused on professional career development. Some are local, some are national, and some are even international. Many are even available as digital publications via your laptop, tablet or smartphone. There are also many blogs that can be very helpful and resourceful to both aspiring and established Black business owners. [Find a publication that meets your needs...]
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| Interesting Facts & Statistics About Black-Owned Businesses: |
Black-owned businesses accounted for about 28% percent of all businesses in Washington, DC, the highest ratio in the nation. Second, was the state of Georgia, where 20% of businesses were Black-owned, and the state of Maryland, with about 19% in Illinois. The state of New York, however, has the most Black-owned firms at 204,093 but this only accounts for 10.6% of the businesses in the state. Second is the state of Georgia, third is the state of Florida, and fourth is the state of Texas with the most Black-owned businesses but not necessarily the highest ratios. [Learn more...]
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