Applied Development is a minority-owned business with an interest in supporting other minority-owned businesses, especially in the Baltimore area. 2020 has been a turbulent year for all small businesses, but for minority businesses in particular. Shedding light on these companies and understanding their needs and how they operate has never been more important than it is today. For that reason, we want to take some time to share a few facts about minority-owned businesses that you may not have known.
The Number of Minority-Owned Businesses in the United States is Growing
Of all of the new businesses started in the last 10 years, 50% are minority-owned. That accounts for nearly one million new businesses across the United States. These companies also added 4.7 million jobs to the workforce.
While the fact that the numbers are growing is a step in the right direction, minority-owned businesses currently only account for 18% of small businesses nationwide, despite the fact that minorities make up about 32% of the overall population.
The growth is promising but there is still work to be done. Supporting minority-owned businesses and taking the time to mentor other minority individuals who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs are two ways to encourage the continued growth of these businesses.
Facts About Minority-Owned Businesses in Maryland
The State of Maryland offers funding and other incentives for minority-owned businesses, including the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, which qualifies them for useful government programs and support.
In 2018, Maryland had the highest number of minority-owned businesses per capita. Though Maryland was beat out by Washington D.C. in 2019, it remains in the number two spot, partially due to the proximity to D.C. and a large number of government contracts available.
Applied Development is proud to be a Maryland certified MBE.
COVID-19 Has Hit Minority-Owned Businesses the Hardest
According to the Foundation for Economic Education, “The number of active business owners in the United States plummeted by 3.3 million,†from February to April 2020. Of these businesses, 41% were Black-owned, 32% were Latinx-owned, and about 26% were Asian-owned. White-owned businesses only experienced a 17% drop.
Many small businesses have to work hard to keep the doors open on a day-to-day basis. When you factor in the tumultuous start to 2020, everything becomes twice as hard as usual.
Right now, it is critically important to frequent minority-owned businesses to help them survive and thrive. Give them a boost on social media and reach out to anyone you may know in the space to see how you can help.
CEO, Kimberly Citizen, set a goal at the beginning of the year to “be the bridge†in all areas of her life. She continues to fulfill that role through Applied Development by offering mentorships and help to other minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.
Questions about Applied Development or interested in working with us? Give us a call today at 410.571.4016 or fill out the contact us form.