Uplifting the vital, resilient, and innovative role of black entrepreneurship

Archer Corporate Services in Belleville were already a supplier to General Motors, but early in the pandemic, the automaker called up and requested their help in manufacturing ventilators. They cleared out their lobby and went to work seven-days-a-week.

Woman’s love of bridal magazines turns into successful Southfield boutiquePublished: August 30, 2020, 11:35 pmNamed after her daughters, Ashley and Alexandria’s Bridal Boutique is tucked away on Franklin Road in Southfield. While it wasn’t her first career choice, bridal design was something she always knew she loved.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. Vinnie Wilson McClure opened up her dream bridal boutique back in 2006. Named after her daughters, Ashley and Alexandrias Bridal Boutique is tucked away on Franklin Road in Southfield. Since I was a teenager getting off Seven Mile bus from Cass Tech and stopping at the drugs store, Id stop there with all my money and Id by bridal magazines, McClure said. She started visiting bridal shows all over the world to gather and collect dresses from different designers. Maybe overseas.More information can be found on Ashley and Alexandrias Bridal Boutiques official website here.

From weddings to major events, these Black business owners do it all. So anything that you can think of, I can probably create it.At just 27 years old, this Black business owner has experienced prejudice -- not just because of her age, but also when it comes to funding. As a Black business owner, as a Black person, we have to work harder, Howard-Combs said. When you love what you do, youre going to make it work. Youre going to fight and youre going to make it work.Click the links below if youd like to contact 12NV Events or Designed by Chalcee.

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. Regina Donald, with Trans-Style Interiors, LLC, formed her unique style early on. From her childhood bedroom to her first apartment, she turned her passion for interior design into a successful West Bloomfield Township business. She wanted to change that and started networking with other interior designers who were Black women. She works with you to design a workspace that flows with your own sense of style.Donald wants to make sure the next generation of Black interior designers reach new heights. Thats just the best part of my life.More information on Trans-Style Interiors, LLC can be found on its official Facebook page here.

“My father and his partner actually developed the entire block, the physical block,” explains Stephanie. She called the development a “labor of love” for her family, so they called the restaurant “The Block” to commemorate that. They are very proud to be Black developers and like to use their success to help promote other Black-owned businesses. That is a part of their Black Wines and Spirits Happy Hour, along with the McBride Sisters Estate Wine “Black Girl Magic Rose,” Uncle Nearest Whiskey, and Anteel Tequila. All Black brands are $5, and Happy Hour is weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

DETROIT – The landscaping outside of The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood senior living facility on McDougall Street in Detroit was done by a Black-owned business. “Landscaping is the first impression that people get when they pull up to your facility,” explained Dexter Erves. HD Landscaping, a full services landscaping company, does it all. Dexter explained the challenges they’ve faced being a Black-owned business. “I was fortunate enough to do some work for the federal government as a GSA contractor,” Dexter explained.

“If you want to end the school to prison pipeline, you have to educate,” Banks said. Her business isn’t about profiting off of people who’ve been arrested, but educating them on the judicial system so they can navigate it successfully. “My heart hurts when I put these people in a jail and they don’t know where to go, they don’t know what lawyers to hire, they don’t know anything about the system,” Banks said. “So, what happened?”Banks created a program called Sticky Situations, a program to educate others on how the judicial system deals with financial literacy, behavioral issues, racism and more. “You’re brilliant enough to figure out a scheme on credit card fraud, but you don’t know how to own a credit card,” Banks said.

DETROIT – Most would consider handwriting a lost art, but Andrea Williams was interested in calligraphy and writing since she was a little girl. She has a business is in the Fisher Building, which she says is a work of art in of itself, and business has never been busier. “People are more sending more cards,” Williams said. She went from making cards for her friends as a hobby to founding Paisley Paper Co. in 2016. More information on the Paisley Paper Co. can be found on its official website here or its official Facebook page here.

DETROIT – Rhonda Morrison is an expert in the art of shoe repair. She’s been at House of Morrisons Shoe Repair, located on Livernois Avenue, near Seven Mile Road, for 37 years. She’s been around the trade longer than that if you count all the time she spent watching her father, a shoe-shiner turned cobbler who started House of Morrisons Shoe Repair in 1954. Morrison’s father made sure she understood all the tricks of the trade. She said she’s looking forward to starting some training and letting some other people have a shoe shop in town.

DETROIT – Detroit Dough, a Black-owned business, is continuing to grow and give back to the community despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Inspired by a New York-based edible cookie dough company, Detroit Dough came to the city when owner Autumn Kyles decided Detroit needed something similar. She opened the edible cookie dough company, which serves five different flavors without the eggs and raw flour, making it safe to eat. “We have five flavors -- chocolate chip, brownie, sugar, peanut butter and no chip, which is chocolate chip without the chocolate chips,” Kyles said. “It’s one of my favorites.”Through Detroit Dough, Kyle has been able to fulfill her dream of giving back.

DETROIT A Detroit mom of four has spent years helping vulnerable teen parents in the city. Rodnesha Ross of the Youth Community Agency says she was determined to give back after so many others helped her achieve success. Her story inspired Ross to start a non-profit called Youth Community Agency. Youth Community Agency helps teen moms complete their GED, connects them to local businesses for internships and helps build skills that can prepare them for college or the workforce. And if there is any young, vulnerable teen mom in Detroit, Ross is ready to help.

He started selling frames from his apartment in 1994 before opening up shop 20 years ago on Livernois Avenue, near the Lodge. “I love to see the expressions on their face when they see their piece framed,” Vaughn said. The name of his shop -- Eric’s I’ve Been Framed -- came to him while pursuing a career he wasn’t excited about. “He came back in about two weeks with business cards and said, ‘You’re in business!’” Vaughn said. He has advice for the next generation of Black business owners trying to turn their dreams into a reality.

DETROIT – First Independence Bank, founded in May of 1970, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. And a lot of community activists, business leaders, got together and went through the process of getting a bank charter and formed First Independence Bank,” said Dimitrius Hutcherson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Technology Officer at First Independence Bank. “We initially were targeting and wanted to be here to service, African American, African Americans and African American home business owners, but the bank grew and evolved. We are a full service bank with products to serve all of the Metro Detroit community,” he added. They want to see our bank in the community, and they want to do business with us.

DETROIT – For Black Owned Business Month, Local 4 caught up with two women who have made a name for themselves in the beauty industry with some big-named clientele. “This is not just makeup for me, Evrod,” LaShawn said. “It’s tough,” LaShawn said. “Cuticle Couture is the fashion,” Williams said. Both women have overcome the obstacles and are using their success stories to encourage other future black business owners this month and beyond.

DETROIT To own and grow a small business, one has to have that special drive -- and theres one Black business owner who is using his own success to help others get in the game and thrive. RELATED: Black business owners in Detroit on the importance of community supportI was raised in the hair salon. He opened Directions Salon in Detroit in 1988. When we got downtown, there werent a lot of Black businesses at all, Ginn said. Most of the help I get is from the stylists here and the people that work in the bar, Ginn said.

DETROIT In the past few weeks weve heard a lot of talk about supporting Black-owned businesses especially during the month of August. Local 4s Evrod Cassimy sat down with several Black businesses owners and they explained why its so important now more than ever. In the Black community often times I think we dont really push entrepreneurship the way that we should, said Detroit District 5 Councilwoman Mary Sheffield. Mary Sheffield is an advocate for supporting Black owned businesses. These business owners believe in supporting Black-owned business so much theyre even putting their money where their mouth is.

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. Theres a big boost coming for minority small businesses in the city of Detroit. TCF Bank announced a new $1 Billion loan commitment to minority and women-owned small businesses. Black owned, woman owned,said Jamesha Lucas with Bronzed N' Glow. Its a title, Jamesha Lucas with Bronzed N' Glow said, she is very proud of, Bronzed N' Glow is a modern twist to beauty supply retail. Gary Torgow with TCF Bank said he understands, this is a tough time for businesses, especially if youre black owned.

DETROIT – Nailah Ellis-Brown signed a partnership with a global mega-star using the sweet tea recipe of her great grandfather, who came to the United States through Ellis Island more than 100 years ago. Ellis-Brown is going head-to-head with the big beverage companies with her tea -- Ellis Island Tea. Ellis Island Tea began with Ellis-Brown making her great grandfather’s Jamaican-style tea in her mother’s basement and selling it from her car 12 years ago. Ellis Island Tea partnered with one of the biggest names in entertainment -- Kevin Hart, who is now an investor in the company. You can find out more information on Ellis Island Tea on its official website here.

The campaign now supporting Black and brown-owned Detroit area restaurants, ordering catered meals to feed those in need. RELATED: New app supports Black-owned restaurants in Detroit, Atlanta, PhiladelphiaIn addition to the homeless at the neighborhood service organization, the campaign is now also helping at risk girls and women. Here are three ways you can help right now :1) The Pay It Forward team has created The Detroit Map of Black-owned Restaurants to help make it easy to locate and support black-owned Detroit neighborhood restaurants right now. Using this map, you can:Patronize Black-owned restaurants. 3) Check out all of Pay It Forward restaurant partners to support them by ordering takeout/delivery or dining in safely:

DETROIT As the movement for racial equity continues, a lot of people have been making an effort to support Black-owned businesses. RELATED: Push to support Black-owned businesses intensifies amid Black Lives Matter movement, JuneteenthA new app is making it easier. It launched in Detroit a few weeks ago, but has already garnered attention for bringing Black-owned restaurants to customers who might not have found them. I just noticed like I would have to search for these Black-owned restaurants, Cabello said. In Detroit, theyve found at least 100 Black-owned restaurants with dozens already on the app.

DETROIT – Jason Appling is walking the walk, literally. He co-founded the annual event Tux & Chucks, which raises thousands every year for Metro Detroit non profits. We sat down with him -- and his cute son -- to talk about the important work he is doing. Watch the interview above. For more information on Tux & Chucks, and CoolSmart Inc., go here.

DETROIT – Back in the 1970s and 80s - the roller rink was the place to be. There are several roller rinks still operating around Metro Detroit these days. Uniquely Detroit's Alex Atwell takes us inside Detroit RollerCade - the oldest black-owned roller skating rink in the city and possibly the country. Watch the Live in the D story in the video player above. RollerCade is located at 2130 Schaefer Highway in Detroit and has open skating on Saturday afternoon and evening.