August is National Black Business Month

Did you know August is National Black Business month? Started over 15 years ago, National Black Business month was created to shine a spotlight on American black-owned businesses. According to the US Census 2012 Survey of Business Owners (SBO), Cook County had the most black-owned businesses. There were 110,155 businesses, accounting for 4.3 percent of all the nation’s black-owned businesses. Read more here.  

While this is impressive, within the walls of west suburban Cook County, it’s a little tougher to find black-owned businesses, let alone support them.
The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry, as part of its mission to serve the greater good of the community, knows this means for everyone in the community. We are committed to expanding the scope, inclusivity and exposure to and for black-owned businesses in our service area. Earlier this year, we formed the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and joined the US Chamber in its nationwide initiative regarding Equality of Opportunity. (Read more about that here.)

We plan to identify and support black business in this area and would like to offer opportunities to non-black owned businesses and organizations to partner with the black community.

Here are a few ways you can start:

• Learn the history of black-owned businesses.
• Understand the obstacles black business owners face today.
• Choose to change your habits as a consumer and fellow business owner.