Atlanta BeltLine opens first incubator program with six Black-owned businesses
Six Black-owned small businesses are now open along the Atlanta BeltLine trails.
The project was created to provide Minority Business Enterprises with affordable opportunities. The Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and The Village Market worked to select six businesses out of over 200 applicants to open the first pilot incubator program.
There is a major wealth gap within Black-owned businesses according to Mayor Andre Dickens.
“There are 13 pathways we have identified to economic mobility, and one of those is through small businesses and entrepreneurship,” Dickens said. “We will not have wealth-building pathways if you don’t have small Black businesses able to thrive in the city; therefore something must change.”
Each business will receive intensive training facilitated through The Village Market to aid in helping them achieve their business goals throughout the program. Three businesses will be located on the Eastside Trail and three will also be located on the Westside Trail.
BeltLine CEO Clyde Higgs said this is the first incubator with many others to come.
“We have to be very intentional about making sure that the BeltLine is a tool for our entire community,” he said.
Each business was strategically chosen in order to provide trail users with helpful options while utilizing the BeltLine, with the intent to build more of a socially and economically efficient experience.
The six businesses range from food, dessert and apparel companies. They will open in phases along the BeltLine from July through November.
To find more information on days and hours of operation, visit www.beltline.org/marketplace.
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