August is National Black Business Month, an annual celebration recognizing Black entrepreneurs and their contributions to America’s economy.
Metro Atlanta is the nation’s hub for Black-owned businesses, with the highest proportion of Black-owned businesses than any other metro in the country, according to Census data. In the region, 7.4% of employer businesses are owned by African Americans. The Columbus metro area ranks fourth in the nation, with 6.7% of employer businesses being Black-owned. Nationally, just 2.4% of employer firms are Black-owned.
When you drill down into Black entrepreneurship in the city of Atlanta, the rate of Black businesses is a lot higher: about 20% of the city’s businesses are Black-owned, according to economic development authority Invest Atlanta.
But for a city with a population that is 44% Black, according to 2021 Census data, there is a stark difference in the population of the city and how it is represented in the business community.
