As Black Business Month kicks off, DeKalb County is taking steps to recognize and support its thriving Black business community. Decide DeKalb, the county’s leading economic development organization, has announced the launch of the first-ever DeKalb County Black Business Guide.
This digital guide is more than just a directory; it’s a celebration of Black creativity, excellence, and entrepreneurship in DeKalb County. With over 100 businesses featured across various categories including business support, retail, food & dining, and non-profit sectors, the guide aims to increase visibility and connect these enterprises with potential customers and partners.
“We’re thrilled to present the DeKalb Black Business Guide,” says Terra Washington, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Decide DeKalb. “By amplifying these businesses, we’re not only recognizing their invaluable contributions to our local economy but also helping to bring them more potential customers and partners.”
The importance of such initiatives cannot be overstated. Recent statistics from Brookings reveal that Black businesses make up only 7% of employer businesses in the metro Atlanta area, despite the Black population being much larger. This guide is a step towards addressing this disparity and fostering a more inclusive business environment.
To mark the launch, Decide DeKalb hosted a celebration on Aug. 1 at the Granite House Lofts in Stone Mountain. This historic venue, owned by husband-wife duo Shani and Jelani Linder, is itself a testament to the growing Black entrepreneurial spirit in the area.
“There is a business renaissance taking place in downtown Stone Mountain, particularly among Black entrepreneurs, and it’s exhilarating,” says Shani Linder. “The fact that over half of the businesses on Main Street are Black or minority-owned is a testament to a new narrative being written—not just here but across DeKalb—that you can start a business and be successful.”
In addition to the guide, Decide DeKalb launched the DeKalb Diversity Decal (D3) program. This initiative will provide participating businesses with a decal to signify Black-owned businesses, with plans to expand to showcase other aspects of DeKalb’s business diversity in the future.
The launch of this guide comes at a crucial time. An Intuit QuickBooks survey found that 46% of Black business owners who advertise their businesses as “Black-owned” believe it deters non-Black customers. The DeKalb Black Business Guide aims to challenge this perception by highlighting the quality and diversity of Black-owned businesses in the county.
“The economic power of the Black dollar is immense and transformative,” Washington emphasizes. “When we support and circulate our spending within Black businesses, we create a ripple effect that strengthens our communities, builds generational wealth, and ensures the success of our entrepreneurs.”
As DeKalb County continues to grow and evolve, initiatives like the Black Business Guide play a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive and diverse business landscape. By shining a spotlight on these enterprises, Decide DeKalb is not just supporting individual businesses, but is actively working to build a stronger, more equitable local economy for all. To explore the DeKalb Black Business Guide and discover the wealth of Black-owned businesses in the county, visit DecideDeKalb.com.
