St. Petersburg Celebrates National Black Business Month with Community Events

Honoring National Black Business Month in St. Pete

• 🗓️ The City of St. Petersburg has launched events this week to honor National Black Business Month.
• 💡 The initiative aims to highlight the experiences of Black-owned businesses and the ongoing need for community support.

Experiences of Black-Owned Businesses

• 🍽️ Roshan Riley, owner of Good Eating, shared that while proud of his restaurant, being a minority-owned business has been a struggle.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He emphasized the blessing of every customer, which allows him to feed his family and employ others.
• 🌳 Marcus Rose of Rose Landscaping and Tree Service stressed that community support is crucial for business survival.

The Role of Community and Investment

• 🛍️ Renee Edwards, CEO of Saturday Shops, advocates for lifting up minority-owned businesses year-round.
• 💰 She highlighted the need for more investors, sponsors, and financial support beyond the spotlight of August.
• 🤝 The community's backing is seen as essential, with the sentiment that "If you don't have the community, you don't have nothing."

City-Sponsored Events and Programs

• 🤝 The city is hosting events like "Building Blocks to Business Success," a networking event with vendor exhibits and expert panels.
• 💡 Another event, "Business-to-Business Networking," on August 28th, aims to foster connections and spark new ideas among local entrepreneurs.
• 🏢 A tour for city officials and business partners is also being organized to highlight Black-owned businesses within the city.
• 📢 While these events are appreciated, the call is for sustained support every week and every month.