The Brookings Metro Center for Community Uplift has launched the Black Business Parity Dashboard, a tool designed to help local leaders better understand how equitable funding could expand Black-owned businesses. The dashboard estimates the number of Black businesses that could exist if they were funded in proportion to the local Black population.
For example, in Atlanta—often seen as a hub for Black entrepreneurship—there are about 14,000 Black-owned businesses. The dashboard estimates that with parity, that number could rise to 63,000. In Detroit, nearly 2,800 Black-owned businesses currently operate. If that number reflected the city’s Black population share, there could be over 23,000, potentially generating around 460,000 jobs across the metro area.
The data also supports findings from a 2021 analysis by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which identified the racial wealth gap as a major barrier to Black business growth. That study called for both public and private sectors to increase intentional investment in Black-owned businesses.
Brookings points to 2021 Census data showing 161,031 Black-owned companies generating $206 billion in revenue. If those numbers grew in proportion to population share—as some dashboard models suggest—total revenue could grow significantly.
According to Brookings, the underrepresentation of Black-owned businesses limits job creation and economic growth. Their latest tool reinforces past advice: targeted investment in Black-owned businesses is key to unlocking broader economic opportunity.
PolicyLink’s Ashleigh Gardere added that current support programs are not enough to close the racial wealth gap. She emphasized the need for private sector changes, including alternative capital access and business opportunities that center and uplift Black entrepreneurs.
