Listening to the concerns of several minority business owners during a recent virtual Community Forum, held by the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria, City Councilman John Chapman heard three main areas of concern: 1) a level playing field, 2) better communication from the City and 3) access to capital.
In addition to Councilman Chapman, panel members included Alex Foto, Eritrean Professionals & Entrepreneurs Network, Marsha Banks-Harold, PIES Fitness Yoga Studio, Senait Meharena, Realtor & Financial Analyst, and Rick Wanzer, of Another Level Hair Salon and Barbershop. Local business owner, Delane Rouse joined via video.
As part of the roundtable, Natalie Talis, Alexandria City Health Department, provided an update on COVID, acknowledging the great support from Councilman Chapman and his fellow city council members. She also encouraged everyone to get their shot.
Other concerns raised included the lack of affordable housing (Seanait Meharena); going to banks outside the city for financial support (Rick Wanzer); forced to close down one location because of COVID (Marsha Banks-Harold); what the city proposes to do financially to help (Alex Foto) and the need for access to capital (Delane Rouse).
“We have a lot of work to do,” Chapman told the group. Following the devastation of COVID on businesses, particularly small businesses, “we don’t necessarily want to get things back to normal, because if we remember, normal wasn’t working for everyone.”
Normal, he explained, was for those who “already had the contacts and resources, and not necessarily working for businesses of color, small businesses and women owned businesses. So we have to, as our President says, Build Back Better.”
- Responding to a variety of questions from the panel and chat room, he detailed his plans to help level the playing field for all businesses.
Chapman proposes: - Using portion of federally allocated $60 million to focus on business retention
- Asking state authorities to do the same
- Ensuring local financial community reinvests monies back into area by serving as a convener, bringing financial and other institutions together with the community
- Creating a ‘Minority Wall Street’ where differing communities with strong links amongst themselves can thrive
- acing a Community Service Center in the West End of town
- Creating partnerships with developers and working on a master housing plan to create (bring back) affordable housing
- Aiding minority business owners to create their own networking association
Chapman thanked everyone for sharing their perspectives and concerns. “It is how we improve as a community,” he noted. “We have to hear from you. Roots run deep in this community and small businesses run deep in this community as well.”
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