Black and Hispanic Americans comprise a substantial and growing share of small business owners. A

view of the fnancial performance

of the frms they own is critical to understanding the extent to which the sector can deliver broad-based growth during an expansion, or where to focus policy attention and resources during a downturn. This report attempts to fll this gap by leveraging voter registration data from Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana to create a sample of nearly 150,000 small businesses with self-identifed owner race. We use this new data asset to inform diferences in small business fnancial outcomes and survival by owner race from 2013 to 2019. 

We write regarding transparency and oversight of two small business programs enacted as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act): the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Emergency Grants Program. April 17th, 2020

AEO’s report, The Tapestry of Black Business Ownership in America, paints a picture of the rich diversity of businesses that weave a tapestry of Black business ownership throughout the country. Moreover, the report makes a case for addressing the complex interplay among three acute challenges impeding Black business development: a massive wealth gap, credit gap, and a trust gap fueled through bias.

While this guide was first published for internal use in 2017, we have since recognized that the field, our partners, the communities we serve and the funders we work with could also find it useful. Now, it is available as a resource for anyone committed to developing best practices to communicate about and address the racial wealth divide and advance racial economic equity.