Pandemic piles on woes for many Akron-area Black-owned businesses

Bob Lanier keeps his eyes on Black-owned businesses in the Greater Akron area.

He's the Akron-based publisher of The Summit Magazine and The Black Pages business directory and for decades has been a part of the local Black business community. He's been through numerous business cycles, watched people open mom and pop shops, manufacturing sites, technology and professional offices, hire employees, expand, contract and create.

Lanier, along with others, knows the coronavirus pandemic caused significant hardships that are hurting all kinds of businesses — and minority-owned businesses in particular that in many cases lack resources needed to help them weather bad times. The stress the pandemic has created is seen in part through the number of closures, fewer customers, people put out of work for lack of business, empty offices and applications for financial help.

"The whole economy needs to be jump-started," Lanier said.

That needs to be done before businesses are at the point of no return, he said.

Read more: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/01/31/akron-black-businesses-struggle-during-covid-19-pandemic/4282779001/
(Akron Beacon Journal)