Previous Juneteenth, the New York Metropolis Division of Small Companies Companies (SBS) unveiled a web-based enterprise listing itemizing over 3,300 Black-owned companies throughout the town. The SBS’s Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC) spearheaded the endeavor.
Whereas Black folks comprise 22% of the New York Metropolis inhabitants, they solely personal 2% of the town’s small companies. Supporters of the web site known as the Store Black initiative optimistic for the group, entrepreneurs, and the final financial system. The launch of the listing additionally coincided with the historic Black vacation, Juneteenth, which celebrates the liberation of slavery for all folks throughout america.
“After we assist our Black-owned small companies, we assist the whole metropolis,” mentioned
Commissioner of the Division of Small Enterprise Companies Kevin D. Kim. “The Store Black NYC listing serves to spice up Black entrepreneurship by encouraging New Yorkers and vacationers alike to buy Black and store native, which in flip permits our neighborhoods to develop and prosper as new companies take root.”
SBS created BE NYC in 2019 to handle racial disparities between entrepreneurs and generate extra Black-owned companies. The group obtains this purpose by growing Black entrepreneurs in rising industries, connecting with group members, and giving entry to equitable financing.
Earlier than the inception of this director, there was no central listing of Black-owned companies in New York Metropolis outdoors of the state’s licensed Minority and Girls-Owned Enterprise Enterprises. Kenneth Ebie, BE NYC’s Govt Director & Chief Growth Officer, was tasked with creating the excellent listing of corporations.
He mentioned this initiative will assist Black-owned companies generate income via a web-based presence. BE NYC will add companies to the listing via social media promotions and its relationships with the borough chambers of commerce, in addition to from its engagement with communities at occasions and actions throughout the town.
“The Larger Harlem Chamber of Commerce is proud to companion with the New York Metropolis Division of Small Enterprise Companies because it broadcasts that it has reached an impressive milestone of getting 300,000-plus companies to be listed on its Store Black NYC Listing,” mentioned President of the Larger Harlem Chamber of Commerce Lloyd Williams. “Congratulations to the superb SBS Commissioner Kevin Kim and his excellent affiliate, Kenneth Ebie.”
Rising Black companies is an arduous and obligatory process to achieve fairness in one of many largest economies on the planet. A couple of in 5 New Yorkers are, but they nonetheless lack the required funds, schooling, and expertise to outlive on this market, in response to BE NYC’s 2020 report.
The report discovered that whereas nearly all of Black-owned companies began with a ardour for enterprise possession, many important elements challenged success. Entry to capital, steering, buyer outreach, and reasonably priced workspaces had been the important limitations to beginning their companies. With the assistance of BE NYC and its group companions, the initiative goals to demystify the method and assist entrepreneurs comply with their passions.
“Data is energy,” Ebie mentioned. “With Store Black NYC, we’re empowering all New Yorkers with entry to info on over 3,300 native Black-owned native companies that they’ll assist throughout this necessary vacation and all year long. Equally importantly, listed companies will profit from a direct pipeline of invaluable info and enterprise assets out there from SBS, supporting their capacity to outlive, thrive and proceed to counterpoint the material of our nice Metropolis.”
