August is National Black Business Month — a time to acknowledge and appreciate Black-Owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equality.  National Black Business month is exciting because it gives us an opportunity to focus on a community that is far too often underrepresented when it comes to access to capital and opportunities to build wealth. 

Black-Owned businesses lack funding opportunities, and many of these businesses don’t receive traffic because they aren’t known in the community.

Celeste Hodge Growden, President/CEO of the Alaska Black Caucus

Hodge Growden hopes to change that by introducing business owners to funders and showcasing Black-Owned businesses throughout Alaska to help close the economic wealth gap. “There are so many great Black-Owned businesses in Alaska,” said Hodge Growden. “The trick is getting the word out to the community.”

Black-Owned Business Reception

Black-Owned businesses lack funding opportunities, and many of these businesses don’t receive traffic because they aren’t known in the community.  The Alaska Black Caucus is working to change that by introducing business owners to funders and showcasing Black-Owned businesses throughout Alaska to help close the economic wealth gap.  To help raise the profile of Black-Owned businesses, this month the Alaska Black Caucus and the Alaska Black Chamber hosted a Black-Owned Business reception in partnership with the federal Small Business Administration and Business Impact NW.  The reception introduced business owners to funders and provided networking opportunities with other Black-Owned business owners. The Anchorage Chamber Board also attended to learn more about these inspiring businesses. 

Blackout Day 2022

In addition to the reception, throughout August the Alaska Black Caucus promoted Blackout Day 2022, an opportunity to harness economic power to fight racism. Blackout Day asks people to fight systemic racism and help reverse centuries-old economic disparities by spending money only at Black-Owned businesses on Fridays in August. 

If you’re interested in serving on the Economics Committee, please email theAlaskaBlackCaucus@gmail.com to learn about upcoming meeting dates.