AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/business/)
Those in attendance at this month’s meeting of the Austin African American Business Network Association were encouraged to apply for a Retail Thrive Zone business development grant from the city of Chicago.
Alleging that three businesses along the same strip of Madison Street in Austin neighborhood allow an environment of loitering, drug dealing, gambling and public indecency, community members met last week with city officials and the business owners to create a plan to resolve the issues.
If more Black dollars were re-circulated in Black American communities, Black dollars would produce Black companies, help hire Black employees, support Black families and rebuild Black communities, writes Phillip Jackson, founder and chairman of the board of The Black Star Project.
Five Austin businesses received awards in the first round of funding earlier this year. The deadline to apply for the next round is Dec. 22, 2017.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford praises Austin business owners and urges banks to do a better job of supporting West Side businesses.
The seven – all located along Chicago Avenue, the “Soul City Corridor” – are receiving more than $558,000 out of $5 million being distributed citywide under the new Retail Thrive Zone program.
Malcolm Crawford, head of the Austin African American Business Networking Association, urges business owners operating along the “Soul City Corridor” on Chicago Avenue to apply for the grants because they’re located in a retail thrive zone.
The Austin African American Business Networking Association will host the event April 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 5924 W. Chicago Ave.
Share information, discuss community concerns and build relations with the police 8:30 a.m. July 27 at MacArthur’s.
