In Atlanta, Black and historically underserved communities located south and west of the city have been economically stagnant despite growth in other parts of the city. The economic recession resulting from Covid-19 poses an additional threat to these communities, leaving them susceptible to even larger outcome gaps. Specifically, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted minority business owners, with twice as many Black- and minority-owned businesses expecting revenue to decrease in the next year as nonminority-owned businesses. City leadership has instituted multiple programs to address the intense economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, including its One ATL: Economic Mobility, Recovery & Resiliency Plan, a roadmap for tackling social and economic inequities. Key objectives of the plan include helping small businesses develop and helping startups and small business owners from Black and historically underserved neighborhoods survive, adapt, and grow.
To support this work, Atlanta is partnering with FUSE Executive Fellow Nia Harper to implement targeted support for minority, small-business owners based on recommendations in the One ATL plan. City leadership aims to create a web of support for Black- and minority-owned small businesses, helping to narrow racial wealth inequality in the city.
