LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – During this Black History Month, some groups are highlighting programs that boost Black business ownership.
Starting your own small business is no easy task, and Black business owners say they face a unique set of challenges. But from retail to baked goods to skin care, some are finding success in the state of Michigan.
“I get text messages, pictures from people saying, hey I saw your freezer at Capitol City, I was at Meijer and saw your cheesecakes,” said Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes Owner Marcus Leslie. “And I’m shocked every time it happens.”
With For Lease signs popping up on empty Lansing storefronts, organizations that promote Black business believe there’s room for more.
“The economy does best when all people have a chance to participate in the economy and Black businesses being included in that,” said Lansing Economic Area Partnership Chief Equity Development Officer Tony Willis.
Many of Willis’ Black clients tell him their greatest hurdle is a lack of access to funding, a historic struggle for the Black community. That’s when Willis points them toward the Elevate Program.
“They get one on one assistance, they get access to LEAP’s network, and they get additional capital to assist them with their spending needs,” he said.
Elevate will enter its third year of operation in April. Eight businesses are selected to participate each program round and participate for a period of six months. Willis said it’s one of two programs through the Lansing Economic Area Partnership that specifically designed to boost Black business growth.
The city of Lansing is home to several high foot traffic areas for in-store shop, one of those being the REO Town neighborhood, where Atalie Buycks runs her Thriftique. For Buycks, finding success as a small, Black-owned business comes with networking and perseverance.
“We’re starting to rally around each other to uphold and give that business to a specific demographic and I think that’s amazing,” Buycks said.
Black-owned businesses like Thriftique and Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes are each celebrating years spent in Lansing. Both Leslie and Buycks have their own words of wisdom to pass along to those who are just getting started.
“One thing about this is, we know failure is going to happen, but just don’t give up,” Leslie said.
“Talk to people,” Buycks said. “Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions.”
Willis said members of the Black community looking to jumpstart their own business should take advantage of the resources around them, not just the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, but banking institutions with a focus on small and Black business growth.
Lake Trust says its designation as a Community Development Financial Institution allows access to grant funds to support small business growth programs. To date, Lake Trust has been able to use those funds to develop the Micro Business Loan Program.
Leslie said he was able to take advantage of Lake Trust programs when moving Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes out of the Allen Neighborhood Center market and onto the shelves of big box grocery stores. But, both he and Buycks say Black businesses can’t continue their growth without the support of their patrons.
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