{"id":36777,"date":"2024-08-21T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecincinnatiherald.com\/?p=36777"},"modified":"2024-08-20T16:57:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T20:57:32","slug":"ohio-development-supports-black-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecincinnatiherald.com\/2024\/08\/21\/ohio-development-supports-black-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio\u2019s Black entrepreneurial successes highlighted during National Black Business Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

By China Long-Dodley<\/p>

Ohio Department of Development<\/p>

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) \u2013 August is Black Business Month in Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Development shares two Cincinnati business owners that are making a positive impact in their community. They are:<\/p>

Cincinnati-based Quality SAP<\/strong> is minority business that benefited from Development’s small business resources. The Black woman-owned IT consulting company offers website development, business branding, and marketing to small businesses.\u202f The business received a Development Micro Loan in April, which helped expand its team, allowing the owner, Cynthia McCallister, to take on more projects for the company.\u00a0<\/p>

Cincinnati-based Skin by Brownlee and Co<\/strong>. is one of many minority businesses that benefited from the department\u2019s small business resources. The Black woman-owned skin care clinic provides a full line of products that prevent and treat acne and hyperpigmentation.<\/p>

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Sylvia Brownlee. Provided<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The business received a Women Business Enterprise loan, which helped fund a new building in Hamilton County.<\/p>

“Being a recipient of a WBE loan has empowered me as a female entrepreneur, giving me the resources and confidence to pursue my business goals and make a positive impact in the skincare industry, said Sylvia Brownlee, founder of Skin by Brownlee Co.<\/p>

Ohio Department of Development is commemorating National Black Business Month in August by showcasing the accomplishments of Black entrepreneurs across the state.  <\/p>

Recognized every August since 2004, Black Business Month celebrates the success and innovation of America’s Black entrepreneurs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

“The Department of Development, through our Minority Business Development Division, its network of Minority Business Assistance Centers, and community partners, is committed to empowering Black entrepreneurs to foster a legacy of success not only for themselves but for the communities they serve,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.<\/p>

“National Black Business Month is a great opportunity to recognize the contributions that thousands of Ohio Black businesses have made toward our state’s growing economy.”\u00a0<\/p>

One such entrepreneur is Jenell Ross. The second-generation owner of Bob Ross Auto Group, located in Centerville, recently celebrated the milestone of 50 years in business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

“The Bob Ross Auto Group values the certification process and can attribute many partnerships developing as a result of our WBE\/MBE status,” stated Ross. “Our certification has allowed us to bid on RFPs that might not have come our way had we not been certified. We continue to see the value in the State of Ohio process, and the Minority Business Assistance Center continues to support our efforts of making sure Minority Businesses have a seat at the table.”\u00a0<\/p>

Bob Ross Auto Group is the first Mercedes-Benz dealership owned by an African American woman in the country. The company is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise.\u00a0<\/p>

Development supports Ohio’s small, minority-women-, and-veteran-owned businesses through Minority Business Assistance Centers that provide:\u00a0<\/p>