Growing Expo Celebrates Local Black Entrepreneurs and Their Achievements

Ty Cooper has watched the Charlottesville-Albemarle Black Business Expo evolve magnificently over its nine-year journey, and this Saturday's event has the potential to be the most significant yet.What fills Cooper with immense pride, as the expo's organizer, is its capacity to highlight local Black-owned enterprises to an increasing audience. “Many will visit Black-owned establishments in Charlottesville, like barbershops, beauty salons, and eateries,” he shared with Cville Right Now. “However, there’s a lack of visibility for sectors like tax accounting. This expo introduces attendees to a vibrant new market, enhancing awareness of these businesses.”The ninth iteration of the expo kicks off at 9 a.m. at the Jefferson School City Center yard, featuring over 40 vendors, insightful panels on finance, marketing, and technology, plus performances from Jen Tal and Ebony Groove.Additionally, a $1,500 contest awaits the best entrepreneurial pitch. Cooper expressed pride in the sustained investment from the community over the years, especially as this year aligns with the Jefferson African-American Heritage Center's Juneteenth celebration—a poignant reminder, given the expo's roots in response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally.