Georgia leads U.S. in Black-owned businesses, new report shows – 41NBC News

New research shows Georgia is leading the nation when it comes to Black entrepreneurship.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – August is National Black Business Month, and new research shows Georgia is leading the nation when it comes to Black entrepreneurship.

According to B2B Reviews, 34.49% of businesses in Georgia are Black-owned. That is the highest percentage of any state in the country.

The report also shows Black-owned businesses in Georgia grew by 26.36% from 2023 to 2024. In addition, Georgia ranks in the top five for federal SBA 7(a) loans, securing 4.09% of approved loan amounts. That’s more than double the national average.

Community leaders in Macon say that support for Black-owned businesses is vital.

“We have a lot of Black-owned businesses in Middle Georgia and small businesses are the backbone of a community,” said Charise Stephens, president and co-founder of the Central Georgia Coalition of Black Businesses. “We gotta be intentional in supporting our Black-owned businesses.”

Publisher Alex C. Habersham, who helps run the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages, says successful Black businesses bring pride and opportunity to the community.

“He embodies what Black businesses can do for our community,” Habersham said, speaking in front of a mural of the late community leader Albert Billingsley. “He embodies why it’s important to support Black businesses.”

Local entrepreneurs like Anthony Howard, owner of Serenity Entertainment Complex in downtown Macon, say listening to customers has helped his business grow.

“Just listening to your customers…any theme events, we try to honor and try to brand those type of events,” Howard said.

National Black Business Month is celebrated every August as a way to recognize and support Black-owned businesses across the country.