The murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests left us reeling last week. We steadfastly support Black Lives Matter and the protests over systemic racism and the police brutality that have plagued black and brown communities throughout our nation’s history.
We’ve decided to channel our grief, outrage and energy into support of black-owned businesses. To that end, we’ve created a Google map highlighting black-owned businesses in the Capital Region that people can download and access on their laptops, tablets and mobile devices. This map is informed by lists that are already being compiled by organizations and individuals in the Capital Region, but we know that it isn’t complete. We’re asking for your help in adding businesses to it.
This map will become a permanent project and asset on the ACE and CapRegionNY websites, and we’ll continue to build and develop it with community input. We will also continue to promote and support black-owned businesses in our articles and content. If you have or know of a business you’d like to nominate, please let us know. We are committed to working together to support higher rates of black business ownership and entrepreneurship, and would like to work with you to understand, expand, and support the needs of black businesses.
ACE is committed to making the Capital Region a better, more inclusive, and more equitable place. We are ready to help, assist, stand by, and partner with people and organizations who are doing amazing and important work to create real, profound, and permanent change.