Local leaders open new Black Business Hub
MADISON (WKOW)– Thousands of people gathered in south Madison to celebrate the ceremonial opening of a brand new Black Business Hub that aims to benefit the community.
Local leaders cut the ribbon on the new building Saturday afternoon in collaboration with the 10th Annual Unity Picnic.
Organizers say the goal of the Hub is to help Black and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) business owners start and expand their businesses by offering financial and mentorship services.
CEO of Urban League of Greater Madison Ruben Anthony made sure to recognize what the hub means to the community.
“There are 10,000 businesses in Dane County that have more than only one employee,” said Dr. Anthony. “Only four-tenths of a percent of those businesses are Black owned businesses. We believe here at the Black Business Hub that we are going to change those numbers.”
According to Ruben, the Hub is equipped with 90 business spaces. Twenty spots are currently occupied. Resources include classrooms for mentoring new business owners, event spaces and a large kitchen space for entrepreneurs looking to expand their skills.
For small business owners of “Oh-She-Cute” clothing like Tammy Jones and Tia Malone, they’re grateful to take advantage of the resources offered at the Hub.
“We recently took three classes here with the Black Chamber of Commerce,” said Jones. “It helped us file our paperwork, capability statements and things like that.”
Tia Malone (left) and Tammy Jones (right) discuss how the hub has helped their small business
“It’s been helping us in a very positive way,” said Malone. “Especially with the Madison Black Chamber being part of it, we’ve been connected with them for a while now.”
The building took more than two years to construct.
Several millions of dollars were raised in partnership with Urban League of Greater Madison to help fund the building.
