‘100Knoxville’ helps Black businesses achieve success

100Knoxville was inspired by a Memphis initiative to help Black-owned businesses increase their revenue. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — According to industry reports, 80% of Black-owned businesses fail within their first 18 months. That’s compared to 20% of all new businesses failing within a year. That’s why organizations like 100Knoxville were created, to help Black business owners succeed. Frank James and Eboni James own Kids Cove Drop-In Child Care Center. Parents can drop off kids and pay by the hour, instead of by the day, week or month like other childcare facilities. “They may want to use an hour. Maybe they have an appointment or maybe they want to just have a date night or whatever, and so that’s the difference whereas most people you have to have a commitment at your daycare or you have to have a waitlist, but you only pay for what you use and we’re open 7 days a week,” said Eboni. They’ve also completed 100Knoxville programs, which aim to help Black businesses grow and achieve success. “I’m super grateful for that opportunity because they saw the vision, they saw the goal and they were able to step in immediately and give us all the tools and...