Rochester continues to see growth from Black-owned businesses

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – KTTC has spoken with several Black-owned businesses in the month of February, and many have had the opportunity to utilize numerous resources to support their business.

Antewan Webber, the owner of Fade Clinic Barbers, is expressing his appreciation to the people who support his business—and not just during Black History Month.

“We appreciate our community because it’s an inclusive community, it’s not about race or nationality, we can cut anyone’s hair. We just feel that we don’t need a month to define us as barbers, or Black men, or as a business. We feel just as equal as everyone else,” Webber said.

John Wade, the president of Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI) said the organization has been able to provide quality resources to help Black-owned businesses succeed. According to the organization, the Small Business Development Center had 52 clients from Olmsted County work with them since February of 2023.

During this time, it worked with these businesses for more than 280 hours and helped them raise $160,000 in capital.

“To be able to see the resources that we can deploy, both from the private sector, as well as the public sector, to help people get into business is really rewarding work,” Wade added.

Webber also spoke on how the significance of Black history goes beyond the month of February and how important it is for people regardless of background to coexist.

“It’s about breaking the cycle and making it better for everybody and if everybody can coexist with each other, to have the same kind of common interest and same likes to make it a better place for everyone, no matter, once again, race or nationality,” Weber said.

The Rochester NAACP branch will also highlight Black-owned businesses in our community on Saturday, with the second annual Black Excellence Expo.

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