The Atlanta Regional Commission recently talked with Leona Barr Cunningham, President and CEO, Atlanta Business League, Inc, established in 1933 to foster growth, creation and development of successful business enterprises, owned, operated and managed by African-Americans in metropolitan Atlanta. The Atlanta Business League has flourished under the leadership of Ms. Cunningham, with a membership of approximately five hundred and a constituent base of approximately 13,000. In 2007, the Atlanta Business League, in collaboration with key organizations, institutions and businesses, launched the 1st Congress on the State of Black Business in Metro Atlanta. Presentations of the 1st Annual Congress on the State of Black Business are available online:
Additionally, the ABL published an inaugural list of Atlanta’s 50 Influential Black men. This Q & A is the first of two installments on the Atlanta Business League, currently celebrating 75 years of business development and advocacy.Additionally, the ABL published an inaugural list of Atlanta’s 50 Influential Black men. This Q & A is the first of two installments on the Atlanta Business League, currently celebrating 75 years of business development and advocacy.
We know that approximately $28 million is spent each year by African Americans in 5 metro counties. Of this amount, only two% stays in our communities. The focus of the congress was on what we have always known…if we do business with each other on a consistent basis, we will realize a significant change in our communities. The Public Policy Committee worked tirelessly to bring together minority business owners from all walks of life to hear the state of black business; to discuss the implications and develop a workable plan to ensure business growth in this City.
Over three hundred business, political and civic leaders helped launch this metro wide campaign to keep the Black dollar in our communities. We had substantive discussion and recommendations were made on how black businesses and consumers can effect a greater contribution to the economic impact on the metro area by increasing business with black consumers and each other. The Atlanta Business League, along with many other key organizations, institutions and businesses, collaborated to gain pledges from sponsors, participants and supporters to increase business with black enterprise by 5% and approximately 50% of those attending signed pledge cards. The featured speakers, Dr. Edward L. Davis, Dean, School of Business, Clark Atlanta University and Dr. Thomas D. Boston, entrepreneur and Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology announced the economic impact of black businesses and lastly, it was important to gain recommendations on how to increase spending opportunities with black businesses. We plan to publish the recommendations and distribute them widely.
The second installment of the Q& A will focus on the role of the Atlanta Business League in the regional community, including specific programs that are implemented and more.