ATLANTIC CITY — More than 30 vendors took part in Atlantic City’s Black Business Expo on Tuesday night, as the city marked National Black Business Month with an event focused on entrepreneurship, networking and support for Black-owned businesses.
The free expo was held at the All Wars Memorial Building and organized by Bruce Weekes and Pamela Fields of the city’s Division of Economic Development, under the Department of Planning & Development.
Entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, residents and supporters attended the event, which gave local businesses an opportunity to showcase and sell products and services while making connections with potential customers, partners and other business owners.
“If you have an idea and a dream for a business, my administration will listen to you and do everything in our power to make it a reality,” Mayor Marty Small Sr. said.
Small said the expo is part of the city’s broader effort to help minority-owned businesses grow.
“The Black Business Expo is one example of the many things we have done to help minority-owned businesses grow in the Great City of Atlantic City,” Small said. “And through the fine efforts of our Economic Development Division, we will continue to invest capital and resources into making sure our businesses, especially our minority businesses achieve success.”
The expo also featured panel discussions with industry leaders, live radio interviews and a pop-up exhibit focused on the history of Atlantic City’s Northside.
The historical exhibit was organized by Ralph Hunter, founder of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
Weekes, the city’s assistant director of economic development, said the event is intended to give local entrepreneurs greater visibility and more opportunities to build relationships.
“The Black Business Expo gives us an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible entrepreneurs and business owners who are helping drive Atlantic City’s economy forward,” Weekes said.
“It creates connections, builds relationships and gives our entrepreneurs a platform to grow,” he added. “We are proud to support Mayor Small’s vision of creating new opportunities for Atlantic City residents and strengthening our local business community.”
City launches Black-Owned Dining Passport
One of the new initiatives unveiled during the expo was Atlantic City’s first Black-Owned Dining Passport.
The passport highlights Black-owned food establishments throughout the city and is designed to encourage both residents and visitors to patronize those businesses.
The city said it is also seeking partnerships with the goal of eventually expanding the concept into a citywide dining passport featuring restaurants and eateries across Atlantic City.
A limited number of Black-Owned Dining Passports are available on a first-come, first-served basis at Atlantic City Hall, Room 503.
The city’s Division of Economic Development has also continued offering programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
Earlier this summer, Atlantic City graduated another cohort of its Small Business Academy, which provides aspiring and established business owners with training and tools to help develop successful companies.
The city also said it awarded $900,000 in micro-grants to small businesses last year, with more than half of that money going to Black-owned businesses.
The Black Business Expo was held in recognition of National Black Business Month, which is observed each August to highlight Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship.
