Black-owned businesses seek fair share of contracts for Jacksonville development projects

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local Black-owned businesses are hoping to get their fair share of city-awarded contracts amid the boom of development projects in Jacksonville. RELATED: ‘Everybody’s trying to make it’: Local businesses feeling the impact of inflation Recommended Videos Sonya Dunbar owns a mobile dentistry company that allows her to service customers who may be unable to get to a dentist’s office. She took part in an event hosted by the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce at the Prime F. Osborne Convention Center. “It’s amazing it’s so important because everything that we need as a black business owner is under this roof right now. RS information, bookkeeping, small business loans, how to strategize your business, everything that you need is right here,” Dunbar said. Officials couldn’t give the total number of Black-owned businesses in Jacksonville, but they said it’s growing and the event will help further that growth. “We want businesses to come and serve the community by being part of something bigger than themselves,” JBCC president Shannon Denson said. We also want to be a place for resources for those businesses.” Yara Banks, chief operating officer of the JBCC, said they want people to join for their future and...