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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The pandemic hasn’t been kind to our business community, but somehow, we’ve seen a 40 percent increase in black-owned businesses in the state of Georgia.
Here’s how the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce is helping local businesses survive.
Augusta Brunch House and Clifism Sports & Spirits are on opposite sides of town, but they have a lot in common.
“We’re facing closing as soon as we open,” said Clifton Thomas, co-owner of Cliffism Sports & Spirits.
Both businesses are ‘epidemics’.
“We opened our business in February 2021 right around the time of the outbreak,” said Brunch House Augusta owner Asia Brown.
Both owners received advice and assistance from the Black Chamber of Commerce.
“During the epidemic in the state of Georgia, we had 40 percent black-owned businesses,” said Ronnie West, president of the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce.
Brown shares how it worked.
“They’ve been very helpful. We’ve actually gotten help from them to get a few things done for the business,” he said.
“The black division works with us and has tried to push things where we can at least get some money and work with Augusta,” Thomas said.
“Our organization has trained over 150 business owners and awarded $200,000 in grants in the past eight months,” West said.
Old State House was full of black entrepreneurs looking to meet, bond and learn.
“It’s a strong coalition of black entrepreneurs and we’re trying to do better in Augusta together than we can individually,” Thomas said.
West said black business owners still face problems.
“That’s why organizations like ours are so critical to ensuring that resources reach the capital,” she said.
August is Black Business Month and more events are planned.
“They can help you get in the right room with the right people,” says Thomas. And that’s what they did to me,” he said.
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