OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Donald McPherson’s North Omaha clothing store Styles of Evolution was inspired by a blouse once worn by his mother.
“Things just evolve. Clothing evolves. What goes out of style, five years later is coming back. So Styles of Evolution was born.”
What’s also evolving is the landscape of Omaha’s Black and minority businesses.
A survey from the Brookings Institute shows that from 2017 to 2021, less than 1% of the Omaha metro and Lincoln’s Black population were business owners.
“Access to capital is the number one, number two, number three problem,” said Karine Sokpoh, CEO of the Midlands African Chamber.
The Midlands African Chamber is solving that problem with funding opportunities through their MAC Xcelerator and Pitch Black competition.
Revive Omaha’s Black Business Network is doing the same alongside American National Bank.
“After those conversations it evolved into launching a financial institution called Carver Legacy Financial Institution or Carver Legacy Center. It has really focused the last two or three years on making sure that we are investing money in those businesses,” said Willie Barney, co-owner of Revive Omaha.
Both organizations are also creating expansion through relationships outside of Nebraska, including MAC’s connection to Atlanta’s Black Chamber and their Go Global Trade Conference happening in October.
“They get to participate at a reduced cost. But, not only that,” Sokpoh told 6 News. “They get a lot of exposure that they would not otherwise have access to.”
Revive has their own connection with Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“They have one of the best Black-owned grocery stores in the nation. We had a number of people visit that store and we have some of our local businesses here that have items that could be sold at those stores,” Barney said.
Revive’s resources and programming has made a big difference in the success of McPherson’s store.
“There’s been several people in here shopping in the last week or the last three weeks that have been at Revive meetings. Again, it all comes full circle,” he said.
Leaders believe their success is Omaha’s, too.
“As these Black-owned businesses, Latino-owned businesses and other ethnic groups see growth and development that it helps the entire city,” said Barney.
On August 24, Revive Omaha is hosting their Black Business Summit.
The MAC Xcelerator is taking applications for its next cohort until August 30.
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