Opinion: Embracing Atlanta’s Black businesses for a more just economy

· 97% of Black-owned businesses have just one employee — the owner. · Annual revenue for Black-owned businesses are lower than the revenues of other businesses in the Atlanta area, and Black-owned businesses are overrepresented in lower-revenue industries. · Small Black businesses are being displaced in majority Black neighborhoods. The median commercial rent in Atlanta’s majority Black neighborhoods increased 98% between 2013 and 2024. The sharp increases in commercial rents can lead to instability for Black-owned businesses’ tenure in the neighborhood, making these businesses vulnerable to displacement. AWBI’s commitment to bolster Black businesses within the city has resulted in $83 million leveraged through microloans and grants to small businesses, capacity-building support and technical assistance since 2018. We are also committed to promoting policy solutions that ensure Black businesses can operate and create good jobs. Our most recent efforts center on commercial and cultural corridors in historically Black neighborhoods. AWBI is currently focused on preserving and advocating for the growth of Historically Black Commercial Corridors (HBCCs) within the city. These corridors — not limited to the conventional notion of “Black Wall Streets” — embody a comprehensive understanding of commercial districts serving Black patrons, business owners and the extended community throughout generations....