Public voting is officially open for the 6th Annual Black Business Ball Awards, where every vote supports micro-grants for local Black business owners.
Business
A space to support local, Black businesses, and highlight the everyday dollars and cents issues that impact your wallet and bottom line.
Posted inBusiness
Why Black-owned businesses can’t afford to be invisible to AI
Traditional search is changing fast. If your business isn’t optimized for AI discovery, you could be losing customers before they even find your homepage.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
$INZU founder marks five years modernizing Ankara fashion
Temilola Okunola started her fashion brand $INZU at 19 with no roadmap. Five years later, she’s modernizing Ankara style, expanding to the Mall of America, and proving that faith and consistency pay off.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Kelly’s Candles turns wax into works of art
For candle artist Kelly, a flame isn’t just about scent, it’s about sculpture, sustainability, and honoring the memories of loved ones.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Black Business Spotlight: Zoma House creates a path for artists in Minneapolis
Uzoma Ngwu launched Zoma House in Minneapolis to bring music, film, fine art, and food under one roof. Here’s how she’s carving out a physical haven for underrepresented creatives.
Posted inBusiness
AI won’t take your job overnight, but it will change it, local strategist says
Local strategist Dwayne Dixon reveals why judgment and lived experience matter more than ever, and how Black professionals can turn tech shifts into real leverage.
Posted inBusiness
Minnesota advocate says candidates are avoiding small business questions as federal contracting rules shift
Small business advocate Lynn Pingol says Minnesota’s governor and Senate candidates avoided her proposed debate on federal contracting rollbacks, even as legislation threatens key SBA programs. Editor Jasmine McBride has the story.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Flame Reaction Candle Co. brings bold scents to the Twin Cities
Twin Cities entrepreneur Chay’La Hart launched Flame Reaction Candle Co. to create handcrafted home fragrances that double as art pieces.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Get Gorgeous marks nearly 20 years of beauty in the Rondo community
For nearly two decades, Get Gorgeous Salon & Spa has been more than a place to get styled, it’s a home for St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. Discover how founder Ilka Bird built a multicultural haven that spans generations.
Sponsored
U.S. Bank’s new online resource empowers small businesses
U.S. Bank’s Business Resources Central is helping small business owners like Jeena Gurung Vomhof of Namaste Brows and Boutique build financial plans, pitch skills and systems for growth. Sponsored content explores how the free digital tool is putting real resources in the hands of Twin Cities entrepreneurs.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Honey’s Soul Food & Bakery seasons its way past a health setback
After physical challenges made everyday cooking difficult, Minneapolis chef and caterer Honey Price adapted by creating Honey Soul Seasonings—a all-in-one flavor line turning personal adversity into business growth.
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Black Business Week 2026: A Full Week of Events Celebrating, Supporting, and Growing Black Business in Minneapolis
Minneapolis Black Business Week 2026 runs July 23 through Aug. 2 with a packed lineup of conferences, certification workshops, street markets and festivals celebrating and investing in the city’s Black business community.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Self-taught lash artist builds business one client at a time
For Shareez Foreman, becoming a lash artist started with curiosity, creativity, and the self-determination to master a new skill, one client at a time.
Posted inEvents
Brooklyn Center fundraiser event supports 30K-Square-Foot event space
McNeal Management is celebrating the land launch of a new 30,000-square-foot business and event center for Black entrepreneurs in Brooklyn Center with a free outdoor celebration. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry has the details.
Posted inBest of Black Businesses
Best of Black Business 2026: Meet the 50 Finalists
Voting is open for the Second Annual Best of Black Business Awards. Meet the 50 finalists across five categories, from soul food kitchens to design studios, representing the best in Black-owned business across Minnesota.
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On University Avenue, Barbershops and Salons Are Building More Than Businesses
From braiding studios to a youth barber training program, University Avenue’s beauty and grooming businesses are building more than haircuts. This piece, sponsored by Neighborhood Development Center, spotlights the owners behind the corridor’s Hidden GEMS.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Tribe Federal Credit Union brings community-rooted banking to Midtown
Tribe Federal Credit Union, the nation’s first provisionally chartered credit union, opened its doors at Midtown Global Market, bringing a mission-driven financial institution to South Minneapolis. Contributing writer Fela Jamal has the story.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Roots & Bloom turns plant care into self-care
Ciera Curtis turned her love of plants into Roots & Bloom, a mobile plant shop bringing greenery, workshops and wellness conversations to communities across the Twin Cities. Contributing writer Lizzy Nyoike has the story.
Posted inBusiness
Governor’s office recognizes Dr. Sharhonda York Chea for transforming justice through research
A conversation with a parole officer as a teenager set Dr. Sharhonda York Chea on a path from watching her father’s reentry to earning a PhD and building a research firm dedicated to reducing recidivism. Contributing writer Lizzy Nyoike has her story.
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Sheer Treasures celebrates culture, wellness and community after 53 years
From selling incense door to door in North Minneapolis to 53 years in business, M. David and Gail Ricks built Sheer Treasures into a Northtown Mall staple rooted in culture, wellness and community.