The City of Atlantic City celebrated Black entrepreneurship and business development this week with the return of the Black Business Expo, held at the All Wars Memorial Building in recognition of National Black Business Month.
Organized by Bruce Weekes and Pamela Fields of the City of Atlantic City’s Division of Economic Development, under the Department of Planning & Development, the free event brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, residents, and supporters for an evening focused on networking, education, commerce, and celebrating the contributions of Black-owned businesses to Atlantic City.
More than 30 vendors participated in the expo, giving these local entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services directly to attendees. It also gave business owners the opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and connect with potential customers, partners, and other members of the business community.
In addition to vendor exhibits, the expo featured panel discussions with industry leaders and live radio interviews, as well as a special pop-up exhibit highlighting the history of Atlantic City’s Northside, organized by Ralph Hunter, Founder of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
“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,” said Mayor Marty Small, Sr. “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, 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 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,” said Assistant Director of Economic Development Bruce Weekes. “It creates connections, builds relationships and gives our entrepreneurs a platform to grow. We are proud to support Mayor Small’s vision of creating new opportunities for Atlantic City residents and strengthening our local business community.”
During the event, the city’s Division of Economic Development also debuted Atlantic City’s first Black-Owned Dining Passport, highlighting Black-owned food establishments throughout the city and encouraging residents and visitors to patronize these local businesses. The city is seeking partnerships in hopes of eventually expanding the initiative into a citywide dining passport featuring all eateries throughout Atlantic City. A limited supply of Black-Owned Dining Passports are available at City Hall, Room 503, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Division of Economic Development continues to provide programs, resources, and educational opportunities designed to help Atlantic City entrepreneurs. Earlier this summer, the city graduated another cohort of its Small Business Academy, providing aspiring and established entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge needed to launch and grow successful businesses. Last year, the City awarded $900,000 in micro-grants to support small businesses across Atlantic City, with more than half of those funds awarded to Black-owned businesses.
