METRO DETROIT BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN 2021. HOWEVER, THE WORK TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES BEGAN DURING THE SPRING OF 2020 AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. DURING THE PANDEMIC, MORE THAN HALF OF BLACK ENTREPRENEURS WERE AT RISK OF FINANCIAL DISTRESS, IN COMPARISON TO 27 PERCENT OF WHITE ENTREPRENEURS, AND 40 PERCENT OF BLACK BUSINESSES WERE FORCED TO CLOSE ENTIRELY. THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED DISPARITIES THAT ALREADY EXISTED, INCLUDING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND LACK OF ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT BUSINESS GROWTH. WITH OVER 80 PERCENT OF DETROIT'S BUSINESSES BEING BLACK-OWNED, THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THESE INEQUITIES AND CHALLENGES ACROSS THE CITY. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFORMATION.THE ORGANIZATION'S STRATEGY IS SUPPORTED BY THREE PILLARS: PROGRAMMING, POLICY, AND PARTNERSHIPS. TWO PROGRAMS THAT SET THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMMING ARE THE CAPITAL CONNECT PROGRAM AND THE BIZ WIZ PROGRAM. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE OBSTACLES THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS FACED, FROM OBTAINING AN OPERATIONAL LICENSE TO ACCEPTING FUNDING FOR SCALING. THIS POLICY PILLAR IS CARRIED OUT BY THE ORGANIZATION'S TRUTH TO POWER SERIES. THIS MEMBER-ONLY EVENT ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN MICHIGAN. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A CONVERSATION GEARED AROUND SUPPORTING BLACK BUSINESSES AS A WHOLE BEFORE A CRISIS, LIKE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OCCURS. THIS PARTNERSHIP PILLAR IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN ALLY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS.