Dayton Celebrates Black Business Month with Purpose
- RoShawn Winburn
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Honoring Legacy. Investing in the Future. Building Forward.
By RoShawn Winburn
Every August, Dayton Weekly News joins communities across the country in observing Black Business Month - a time to elevate Black entrepreneurship and drive conversations around equity, ownership, and generational wealth. For us, it’s more than a tribute. It’s a commitment.
We honor the visionaries who built businesses despite discrimination and systemic barriers. In Dayton, legends like W.S. McIntosh and CJ McLin stood as beacons of economic self-determination, proving that Black enterprise is about far more than income. It’s about empowerment and community.
Today, Black-owned businesses remain underrepresented and underfunded. Although Black Americans make up 14.4% of the U.S. population, they own just 2.4% of employer businesses [U.S. Census Bureau, 2023]. Yet they continue to create jobs, close wealth gaps, and uplift neighborhoods.
This August, Dayton Weekly News is featuring stories, profiles, and resources that showcase Black excellence across industries—from food and beauty to tech, trades, and finance. But celebration alone is not enough. We must move from symbolic support to intentional investment.
“If just 15% of Black consumer spending were redirected to Black-owned businesses, it could generate over 600,000 new jobs.” — Brookings Institution, 2020
Black Business Month, co-founded in 2004 by historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr., was designed to push for policy change and promote the economic agency of Black communities. In Dayton, it also serves as a time to recommit to our local business ecosystem and confront the barriers that persist.
Dayton’s Black business legacy runs deep. In the early 20th century, West Fifth Street, often called the “Harlem of the Midwest,” was a thriving commercial and cultural corridor. Anchored by Black-owned shops, theaters, offices, and clubs, the area was both an economic driver and a sanctuary for Black residents during segregation.
Not far from there, Wright-Dunbar Village became home to influential Black figures like poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, alongside entrepreneurs, craftsmen, and professionals. West Dayton, shaped by redlining and urban renewal, bore the burden of displacement while also nurturing a vibrant culture of enterprise.
Though mid-century development projects fractured these neighborhoods, the spirit of ownership endures. Today’s Black business community stands on the shoulders of that legacy, by rebuilding with innovation, creativity, and purpose.
The legacy of Black business in West Dayton is far from a relic. It has evolved through adversity, shaped by a history of exclusion, redlining, and resilience. While challenges remain, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong.
According to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Black-owned businesses now account for 19–21% of all small business registrations in Montgomery County. These businesses span sectors such as:
Personal Services (barbershops, beauty, wellness)
Food & Beverage (restaurants, catering, food trucks)
Construction & Trades
Transportation & Logistics
Retail & Apparel
Consulting & Professional Services
However, most remain sole proprietorships or microenterprises, with relatively few having scaled to employer firms.
Support organizations like the Miami Valley Urban League, the Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) at the Entrepreneurs’ Center, and the Minority Business Partnership (MBP) are working to close these gaps. Their 2024 impact includes:
121 minority-, women-, and veteran-owned certifications assisted, and
$742,500 in loans awarded to 140+ Black- and Brown-owned businesses.
Despite progress, business owners still face challenges accessing capital, commercial space, procurement opportunities, and marketing visibility. But across Dayton, new ventures, from mobile salons and e-commerce brands to tech startups and tradespeople, are reimagining what Black business looks like.
A Call to Action
Black Business Month is not the culmination of our support. It must be the beginning. Entrepreneurs are clear. They need more than seasonal visibility. They need sustained, tangible investment.
What Business Owners Need:
Year-Round Customers – Not just a moment of hype, but consistent support
Access to Flexible Capital – For inventory, hiring, and growth
Affordable Commercial Space – In visible, accessible areas
Mentorship & Market Access – Strategic connections and supplier inclusion
Media & Storytelling – To build brand visibility and customer trust
What the Community Must Build:
A Culture of Circulation – Prioritizing Black-owned businesses year-round
Youth Education & Exposure – Teaching entrepreneurship and investing early
Directory & Discovery Tools – Easier ways to find and support Black businesses
Policy & Procurement Equity – Holding institutions accountable for inclusive practices
More Than a Month – A Movement
As a Black-owned publication, Dayton Weekly News understands the power of visibility, consistency, and local investment.
“Dayton Weekly News doesn’t just highlight Black business - we are one. We know the journey, and we don’t want to be a trend. We want to be a trusted part of the local economy. These businesses don’t just serve customers. They serve as models of what’s possible.” - Donerik Black, Publisher - Dayton Weekly News
Black Business Month should be seen as a launchpad, not a victory lap. Let this month be your opportunity to reset, reimagine, and redirect your energy toward equity.
This August, we challenge you to:
Discover a new Black-owned brand
Make your spending more intentional
Advocate for equity in policy and partnerships
Whether you’re a customer, decision-maker, or neighbor, you play a role in shaping the future of Dayton’s economy. When we build Black businesses, we build stronger communities. Let this month spark the mindset. Let the rest of the year carry the movement!
