This is a guest opinion
Recently I attended a networking event for women business owners celebrating Women’s History Month. We gathered into a hotel meeting room to drink mocktails, meet with friends old and new, and even dance a little. Why? Because we know we – and our businesses – thrive because of community.
In an era when the demands on our time pull us in so many directions seemingly all at once, the relationships that we’ve been able to weave together remind us that we’re not alone. People are rooting for us. The people we’re cheering on are seeing the impact of voices raised on their behalf. Being in that room reminded me that incredible stories are present all around us waiting to be told.
That’s why our team is conducting the Birmingham Black Business Census. This effort has been in the works for more than a year. Since we launched this January, hundreds of business owners have decided to stand up and be counted. The desire for the data is overwhelming. We’re getting requests to see business censuses for other audiences and municipalities. Everywhere I go, business owners and non-business owners alike are hungry to hear what we’re learning. I plead for patience because we’re still in data collection mode.
This initiative is filling in a knowledge gap in our city. Federal census participation has been on the decline for years.
CPS Survey Response
The federal count of businesses takes place only every five years. We know that changes in business move much faster than that.
We often get asked, Why not rely on city business license data? Business license data can tell us who has a Birmingham business license, but might be silent on the businesses that are participating in our accelerator programs. They also miss the business owners who deeply identify with the city and its success but are licensed to a business owner who lives outside Birmingham city limits. We want to fill in the gaps.
We are inviting the broadest definition of Birmingham business owners to take the census. We’re encouraging owners to take the census if they live in Birmingham, their business is located here, their customer is here, or their heart is here. We’re interested in businesses regardless of licensing status. I’ll share a personal story here. I moved to a home I had rented in Irondale after I started my business. I got an Irondale business license – because I was still home based at the time – and even met with the Irondale Chamber of Commerce representative to learn more about what they had to offer. It was only months later when I went to cast my ballot for Irondale mayor that I realized my house was actually physically located in Birmingham. Despite my easy mistake, I’m still a huge champion of home-based businesses and would love to see them participate. We’re want all stages and kinds of businesses to see themselves reflected in the story of Black business ownership in Birmingham, even if you’re a business of one.
We’re leading this project in partnership with a team of Black-owned, Birmingham-based businesses. We believe strongly in this work to continue to make Birmingham a great place to do business. With the right information at their backs, our ecosystem partners can shape programs, curate resources and engage new champions that speak to the actual needs shared through the Census.
As a researcher, I believe knowledge is the first step to meaningful change. Let’s make sure your business is part of the conversation.
The Birmingham Black Business Census is a citywide initiative focused on gathering crucial data about Black-owned businesses in Birmingham. By collecting and analyzing this information, the Census helps strengthen support systems, improve resource allocation, and foster a more inclusive and sustainable business ecosystem. For more information, visit www.bhamblackcensus.com. The Birmingham Black Business Census will continue to run through April 30, 2025.
Autumn Sanders, of Quire Consulting, is leading the Birmingham Black Business Census effort.
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