By Shimei Cook, NABJ Monitor Digital
As August marks Black Business Month nationwide, Cleveland’s diverse landscape of Black-owned enterprises demonstrates how a small percentage of businesses can create outsized community impact.
According to the latest U.S. Census data, Black-owned businesses represent just 3% of all companies across the country. However, in Cleveland, these businesses are proving that their influence extends far beyond what their numbers might suggest, creating jobs, fostering creativity and addressing critical community needs.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at businesses like CoCo’s Selfie Place, where innovation meets community engagement. What started as a simple business idea has evolved into a creative hub featuring over 70 unique selfie sets designed for social media enthusiasts. The business also produces paint powder, an all-natural additive that transforms regular paint into chalk paint.
“My whole thought process was, ‘OK, do the powder, give back, make this a really cool space for young people to come and hang out and be creative,’” owner Hikia “Coco” Dixon said. “When my kids suggested doing selfie spots, I started with 10 and ended up with 70 different selfie spots inside the location.”
Community impact takes on a different form at The Auto Express Car Wash, which also provides auto detailing and rents out Razers and electric bikes. The company has committed to providing employment opportunities for people who were formerly incarcerated. This approach reflects a broader understanding of how businesses can serve as engines of second chances and community rehabilitation.
“Some of them could have been in bad situations, and everybody deserves a second chance,” said owner Norman Young. “I didn’t grow up in the best circumstances, but I’ve been here for 10 years and I know what it takes.”
Supporting these entrepreneurial efforts is the Greater Cleveland Partnership, which has spent over two decades developing programs and resources specifically designed to help Black businesses and business owners succeed. Patrice Blakemore, senior vice president of equity and inclusion, emphasized the organization’s commitment to economic equity.
“One of the things that we try to do here at Greater Cleveland Partnership is to make sure that we’re closing the wealth gap so that everyone has an opportunity, and we know that Black businesses help do that,” Blakemore said.
The Partnership tracks an important metric: the number of Black businesses generating $5 million or more in annual revenue. This focus on substantial revenue growth reflects a strategic approach to long-term economic development.
“We have seen every year we are looking to increase that by five more because five more is going to make an impact,” Blakemore said. “There’s going to have an exponential impact as we look down the line within the next decade.”
The importance of Black businesses in Cleveland extends beyond individual success stories to broader community transformation.
“Black businesses are important because they are going to contribute in a significant way to the economy for the community,” Blakemore explained. “Many times their businesses are in the city and they are hiring people of color, and that means that we’re going to be more gainfully employed.”
As Black Business Month continues, Cleveland’s entrepreneurial landscape serves as a testament to how targeted support, community engagement, and innovative thinking can amplify the impact of minority-owned enterprises throughout the region.
Be the first to comment