PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. – A new bill before the Prince George’s County Council, introduced by Councilwoman Krystal Oriadha (D- District 7) would create a start-up fund for Black-owned businesses to help them expand and get off the ground.
This bill wouldn’t require any new County spending; it would mandate that funding for existing business entities is more inclusive of local, Black-owned businesses. This bill was recently introduced and will be voted on in the coming weeks.
“We have the Economic Development Corporation, it already exists. We have dedicated funds that are all about building local businesses, helping them to expand, and investing in startups, but what we don’t have is a concentrated effort that says we’re going to support Black business owners,” said Councilwoman Oriadha while explaining the bill.
“And so that’s what this legislation does. It says 25% of that fund needs to be dedicated to businesses that are 51% or more Black-owned.”
Oriadha says that while looking at businesses in her inner Beltway district, she saw a lack of business owners who looked like her. She has also launched a Digital Green Book, highlighting Black-owned businesses and other cultural staples within the County.
An Annapolis bill, proposed by Delegate Tiffany Alston (D- District 24) would allow lobbying and government relations work done by minority-owned businesses to count towards the state’s MBE requirements under certain circumstances.
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