Phoenix Black businesses face challenges with start-up capital

Jalissa Smith shows off a jacket at Sew Used, a secondhand clothing store in Tempe. Smith co-owns the shop with Justin Gonzalez. (Photo by Kayla Jackson/Cronkite News) Brownstone Spa in Phoenix offers skin consultations, body treatments, customized facials and advanced treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion and dermaplane treatments. (Photo by Huston Dunston Jr./Cronkite News) These are some of the secondhand clothes that Sew Used in Tempe offers. (Photo by Kayla Jackson/Cronkite News) PHOENIX – There is a small but growing number of Black-owned businesses in Arizona. One of the challenges that they face is getting the money to start. Brownstone Spa in Phoenix is owned by Stacy Best-Nervis. The spa has customized services for men and women of color, who often experience skin issues that are not easily identified due to the absence of training and expertise at other facilities and esthetic schools, according to the spa’s website. It says the business offers skin consultations, body treatments, customized facials and advanced treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion and dermaplane treatments. When asked about challenges in starting her business, Best-Nervis said “gaining capital and getting your finances together” was tough. “As a Black-owned business, there are stats that show it...