In Summit County, efforts are underway to better understand the economic contributions of Black-owned businesses. Sharonda Sammons, an Akron native and owner of Sammons Safety Services LLC, has long observed disparities in opportunities for Black businesses. Her company, which includes dump truck services, operates in Cleveland and Akron, yet she notes a lack of opportunities in areas like restaurant or building safety compliance checks.

To address this, the Black Chamber of Commerce – Summit County, in collaboration with the University of Akron, is conducting a survey to create an economic impact report. The survey aims to capture data on the contributions of Black businesses regardless of size, industry, or revenue.

Survey Details and Goals

Robert DeJournett, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce – Summit County, emphasizes the importance of this survey, which he believes is the first of its kind in the Akron area. The survey, which takes about seven minutes to complete, is designed to be inclusive of all Black business owners, including solopreneurs and faith-based groups.

DeJournett aims to gather responses from 500 Black business owners by June 30. The data collected will provide insights into employment figures and the economic percentage contributed by Black businesses in Summit County. So far, around 150 business owners have participated.

DeJournett notes, “It’s not just for us to use — it’s for all of those who will find this data useful. Our whole ecosystem should be able to use this data.” The survey results are expected to benefit a wide range of stakeholders interested in the economic landscape of the region.

Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.