Spotlight On: Keely Gideon-Taylor, President of the Board of Directors, Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County

October 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Keely Gideon-Taylor, president of the board of directors at the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, said that the organization is committed to advancing economic opportunity for Black-owned and minority-owned businesses through strategic partnerships, resource-sharing and community empowerment. “Our mission is to advance the economic interests of our members through education, advocacy, resource brokering, and information sharing,” she said.

Reflecting on the past year, what have been some of the major highlights and milestones for the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County?

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County celebrated its 20th anniversary at the end of last year, which we’re very proud of. We’ve been serving the community for two decades, working to support and empower local businesses. Over the past 12 months, we also hosted our 13th Annual Ascension Awards — our signature business awards event — where we recognize outstanding small businesses, minority-owned enterprises and business professionals in Palm Beach County. To date, we’ve honored over 70 local businesses and professionals who are making a meaningful impact in the community. Those are just a couple of the highlights. We are proud that our membership continues to grow steadily as our presence grows as well.

Are there any notable trends or market dynamics unique to the Palm Beach region?

Palm Beach County and Florida as a whole is a thriving ecosystem of small and minority-owned businesses. In fact, depending on the source, Florida ranks either first or second in terms of revenue generated by Black-owned businesses. This makes the region especially promising for Black and minority entrepreneurs. Within our Chamber, we’ve seen significant activity in personal services. At our last event in February, we honored several members from the healthcare and medical services sectors, which are thriving. Personal care services are also prominent. We have many construction companies, some of which hold contracts with local municipalities. Financial services and retail, especially food and catering businesses, are also strong. These are the primary areas where we’re seeing business activity among our members.

Could you tell us more about the role the Black Chamber of Commerce plays within Palm Beach County’s local business ecosystem?

Our mission is to advance the economic interests of our members through education, advocacy, resource brokering, and information sharing. Simply put, we exist to help our members grow their businesses by providing opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. There are roughly 13 to 17 chambers in Palm Beach County, depending on who you ask, and we strive to ensure our members have access to capital, training, technology, marketing strategies, and growth opportunities. We partner with many of the county’s 39 municipalities, many of which have Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs, to connect our members with relevant resources. We want our members to have every opportunity to succeed and remain competitive among the county’s broader small business community.

What are some of the strategic advantages and benefits for businesses that join the Chamber?

In addition to the access to capital and training opportunities, we can offer workshops on marketing, technology and business development. Many of our members, especially startups, need foundational tools such as the right software or financial guidance. That’s why we collaborate with banking partners and host financial literacy events. We also partner with larger chambers and municipalities to increase exposure and create meaningful networking opportunities.For us, everything comes down to building strong relationships. We strive to provide a full spectrum of resources so our members can thrive.

What are the main challenges currently facing the local economy, and how is the Chamber supporting members in addressing them?

One major concern right now is the impact of tariffs. We’re still assessing how they might affect our members’ goods, services and distribution operations. It’s early, but we plan to survey our members to better understand how they are navigating these changes. Another issue is the rapid business growth in the area, which brings increased competition. While that’s a positive sign for the region overall, we want our members to stand out. To support this, we’ve launched a new campaign that promotes our members through a public directory. This helps ensure that when visitors or residents are looking for services, whether it’s a restaurant, a salon, insurance agent or another small business, they know where to go. We believe there’s enough opportunity for every business to be successful if they have the right tools and visibility.

What impact has population growth, business relocation and increased interest in the region had on local businesses?

It’s been overwhelmingly positive. The more people that come to the area, the more potential customers our members have. We work closely with Discover The Palm Beaches to stay updated on trends and visitor demographics. Palm Beach County is consistently one of the top destinations in the state and even the country. The growth in the residential population is also a net positive for the local economy. The amount of traffic and tourism here is incredible. That benefits our Chamber members because those visitors and new residents are not only staying here — they’re also spending money. They’re seeking goods and services, which is exactly what our members provide. With our directories and strategic partnerships, we ensure our businesses are well-positioned to be discovered and patronized.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the Black Chamber of Commerce over the next two to three years?

We’re focused on continued collaboration. We may not have all the answers, but by working with neighboring chambers, municipalities and corporate partners, we can expand our resources and better serve our members. Another goal is to grow our membership base. While we’re proud of our 20-year legacy, we recognize that we’re still relatively young compared to other chambers. We want to lead with Black excellence, and provide exceptional value. Also, just to clarify, your business doesn’t have to be Black-owned to join the Chamber. We welcome anyone who supports our mission to advance the success of Black-owned businesses. Many of our corporate partners have pledged their support and resources toward that mission.

In what ways does the Chamber work with both public and private sector partners to advance economic development and support its members?

We partner with both corporate entities and municipalities across all of Palm Beach County — there are 39 in total. These partnerships open doors for our members to secure contracts and subcontracts with local government agencies. For example, we have a strong relationship with the Palm Beach County School District, one of the region’s largest employers, which offers procurement opportunities. On the private side, we collaborate with several corporate partners that regularly purchase goods and services and may offer contract opportunities. These partnerships are essential, as they allow us to bring otherwise inaccessible resources directly to our members, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

Want more? Read the Invest: Palm Beach report.