Minority-owned businesses get help from City of Columbus as incubator program expands

Courtesy of ABC 6
By Myles Harris
April 14, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — In 2021 the Columbus Urban League launched a pilot program aimed to help minority-owned businesses throughout Central Ohio.

The program assisted businesses by giving them access to the Columbus Chambers of Commerce. This year, the program is expanding from 25 businesses to 70 with the help of Columbus City Council and Nicholas Bankston.

Councilmember Bankston said it was a “no-brainer” to involve city council.

“What comes with that is a whole entire suite of professional services and consultations, marketing and all kinds of things that help them to grow their business,” Bankston said.

Minority-owned businesses get help from City of Columbus as incubator program expands

A big push in helping the program expand is funding from city council. They’re supplying $175,000 into this year’s program and helping the goal of growing minority-owned businesses.

“Really it’s targeting them to make sure we create a more equitable city, but we ensure that minority businesses thrive in the city of Columbus,” Bankston said.

Bankston’s role with city council is to focus on local, minority businesses and what keeps him enjoying his job is hearing about the success stories.

J’s Sweet Treats is a Central Ohio bakery that joined the program in 2021. With the help from the Columbus Urban League and valuable resources, the bakery was able to expand to a second location.

Love Meets Cakes wasn’t one of the 70 businesses selected, but owner Shanna Banks stresses the importance of having help in finding professional services.

“So somebody just giving you these resources and tools in helping you. I mean I think that’ll actually launch you a lot quicker than you just fumbling along the way,” Banks said.