BlackOwnedPGC

County Executive Alsobrooks Gets Set To Recognize Black Businesses

By Kia Lisby

  County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks will be getting some special plans launched in recognition of Black Business Month in Prince George’s.

  Black Business Month is a month-long celebration (August), acknowledging Black-owned businesses. Founded in 2004 by John William Templeton and Frederick E. Jordan Sr., the national holiday’s goal is to draw attention to the needs of black entrepreneurs and businesses.

  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, black-owned businesses account for over 2.6 million businesses---about 10 percent of U.S. businesses and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses. The rise in the number of black-owned businesses is due to the contributions of black women. The 1.5 million black woman-owned businesses have accounted for almost 60 percent of the nation’s black-owned businesses.

  With COVID-19 affecting many aspects of daily life, more businesses are suffering and struggling to keep their doors open. Small businesses are at the brunt of the closers with few alternative options.

  Recently, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that Prince George’s County is launching a campaign to support local black-owned businesses through the County’s Buy Prince George’s Initiative.

  “Black-owned businesses across the nation have been hit particularly hard by this pandemic, so during National Black Business Month, we want to use our Buy Prince George’s Initiative to celebrate, promote and support our local Black-owned businesses,” said Alsobrooks. “Small and local businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we will continue doing everything we can to ensure they recover from this pandemic stronger than ever before.”

  “Buy Prince George’s” is an initiative started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Prince George’s County business community. The goal is to support local businesses by connecting them with county residents that want to shop for goods and services while supporting the local economy. The initiative is a partnership between the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, Experience Prince George’s and the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. 

  Alsobrooks is encouraging county business owners and residents to use hashtag #BlackOwnedPGC, to help identify, promote, and support local Black-owned businesses. This can be beneficial for County business owners to get involved with because Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and Experience Prince George’s will monitor social media and promote local businesses that use #BlackOwnedPGC. Buy Prince George’s will also add the businesses to the County Cyber Mall located online. To search or list a local business on the County Cyber Mall, visit https://www.pgcedc.com/buyprincegeorges.