Black Business Month is underway, and across Eugene, there’s a push to make business ownership more than just a distant dream for budding entrepreneurs.
Nationwide, the month of August is designated as a time to celebrate black businesses, entrepreneurship, and ongoing efforts to welcome black people into a lane once barred.
Talicia Brown, executive director of the Black Cultural Initiative, runs a community center and the city’s first black business incubator, the People’s Collective.
“To really help to support, grow, and develop black owned businesses locally. Many of the initiatives that we do are business coaching, mentorship,” said Brown. “They need support in how to start up their business, how to create a business plan, how to access capital.”
Three businesses are currently housed at the People’s Collective until they’ve developed a stable infrastructure with resources Brown says can be too difficult for BIPOC owners to access.
The Collective is also in partnership with the Lane Small Business Development Center hiring black business advisors to help grow the black economy.
One new local business reaping the benefits of Eugene’s black entrepreneurs working to lay a stronger foundation for those to come is Yardy Rum Bar at 837 Lincoln Street.
Yardy opened in February for Black History Month to a slow start, but now co-owner Isaiah Martinez says customers are rolling in as more people find out about them.
“I think a lot of people are into the concept and like that we’re farm to table and have an emphasis and focus on buying local, mixing seasonal cooking and diasporic foods with black culture,” said Martinez.
Martinez’s family is predominantly from Grenada and Puerto Rico, so his menu features favorites like three piece pan fried chicken with seasonal sides and their doubles – a traditional Trinidad and Tobego dish.
“I’ve always wanted to create a sanctuary for people of color obviously create a sanctuary for everyone. We have a lot of black immigrants coming into Eugene. I want there to be a place where they can come in, eat really good food, be proud of it.”
The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce says making business ownership more equitable and encouraging the support and growth of BIPOC owners takes center stage this month and all year.
“Our mission is to make sure that every individual is leading a happy, healthy, and prosperous life. The reality is that in our area, not just our region but the entire state, that just isn’t historically true for everybody,” said Samantha Roberts, director of marketing & communications, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have a lot of work to do in our community to celebrate not just the black owned business community but really the black community as a whole that we are trying to heal and uplift and empower people.”
In 2020, the Chamber formed Endeavor Eugene to make the local business scene more inclusive.
In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the program offers resources to local businesses to better promote diversity.
It also provides scholarships to businesses to attend the Community Solution Summit that helps them grow their network and get involved with shaping policy.
On Saturday, August 24, the Black Cultural Initiative will spotlight several black caterers and chefs during its free BBQ and fish fry at the People’s Collective including Mish Jacks Catering and Stewart Soul Food Fusion.
That’s from 5-9 p.m. at 1695 Jefferson Ave. in Eugene.
For more information on the business incubator or the BBQ, click here.