While the District has been praised for supporting Black entrepreneurship, a recent report revealed some disparities in how funds are being distributed among women and minority-owned businesses in the area.
In 2022, the D.C. metro area clinched the second spot on Lending Tree’s esteemed list of top U.S. locations for Black-owned businesses, with approximately 7.7% of firms in the region boasting Black owners. This figure, amounting to 8,649 out of 111,872 total businesses, showcased the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit within the community.
The broader Virginia-D.C.-Baltimore corridor also left its mark, with Richmond securing the third position at 6.7% and Baltimore at eighth with 5.4%.
The narrative took a turn in 2023, as a meticulous 409-page report by Denver-based groups BBC Research and Consulting, Pantera Management Group, and Tiber Hudson scrutinized the government contract landscape in the District of Columbia. Examining the procurement habits of the D.C. government, Events DC, and the University of the District of Columbia from fiscal 2016 to 2020, the study found that approximately $8 billion in contracts and subcontracts were awarded during that period. Further, $2.9 billion of that amount went to businesses owned by women and people of color, yielding a commendable spending rate of 37%.
While the city received accolades for surpassing spending rates in comparable jurisdictions, concerns arose as the study revealed an uneven distribution of the $2.9 billion. Approximately 70% of the funds were concentrated among 10% of women- and POC-owned businesses, prompting a closer examination of inclusion and equitable distribution within the local business ecosystem.
Building on this narrative, a 2024 PEW Research analysis provided a broader perspective on the state of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. Despite a notable increase from 124,004 in 2017 to 161,031 in 2021, Black-owned businesses constituted only 3% of classifiable U.S. firms. This sector contributed 1% to the gross revenue of all classifiable companies, unveiling a substantial disparity in the economic landscape. The February 2024 analysis updated a September 2023 Pew report that provided similar details.
In the District of Columbia specifically, Black majority-owned businesses held a significant share, comprising 15% of all classifiable firms. The statistics diverged notably from the national average, emphasizing the unique dynamics at play within the capital city’s business environment.
The intricacies of growth, government contracts, and disparities within the Black-owned business sector continue to be focal points for scrutiny, prompting ongoing discussions and analysis within the D.C. metro area.
“While Black-owned businesses have grown significantly in the U.S. in recent years, they still make up a small share of overall firms and revenue, according to our analysis of federal data,” Rebecca Leppert wrote for PEW. “For most Black or African American majority owners, their business is their primary source of income. Seven-in-ten of those who reported income information in 2021 said this was the case.”
Source: Washington Informer
