MAINE BLACK BUSINESS PLEDGE
Black Owned Maine and Portland Buy Local have come together to create the Maine Black Business Pledge, allowing Maine-based independent businesses and consumers to pledge a portion of their economic power toward Black-owned businesses.
BUSINESSES
The purchasing power you have is immense. Adding Black-owned businesses as wholesale accounts is one way that your business can help us move toward a more equitable community. Make a pledge today to allocate 10% of your shelf space to independent, local, Black-owned businesses.
After signing click here to find a list of Black businesses ready to place products on your shelves.
*Please note. Many of the businesses listed in our directory are micro-businesses. They often cannot sell in large quantities. Think of these businesses as boutique suppliers.
CONSUMERS
Your dollars mean so much because you directly control our economy and who succeeds. Make a pledge today to allocate 10% of your spending power to independent, local, Black-owned Businesses.
After signing the pledge head to the BOM directory and find a business/nonprofit/artist/professional to support today!
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Take a look at the facts:
Only 9.2% of businesses in America are owned by Black people, accumulating only 1.3% of sales. (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Business Association, 2012 Study of Business Owners)
Investing in Black Business will create 1 million jobs, with revenues of $187.6 billion, and provide every working Black American with $7,000 a year in income. (Source: Black Demographics; stats will be updated once the new census information is released).
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Clearly, it’s time to close this vast racial wealth gap between Black people and their counterparts – and you can be part of the solution.
- Add your Black Business to the pledge
- Retail Business Pledge
- Consumer Pledge
- Speak up! If you’re unable to find a Black-owned business that fills a need, we want to know! Fill out this form so we can identify where there are gaps in the market. You could inspire an entrepreneur to start a business that will better reflect the needs of the community! (Link coming soon)
- Get involved with BOM and PBL
- Contact us for more info.
Once you make the pledge, you immediately strengthen our Maine economy and our Maine community in such a profound way, and we can’t wait to see these pledges transform our state! Be sure to SPREAD THE WORD with your pledge (to friends, family, and on social media with the hashtag #BOMPledge) and encourage them to join the movement!
INTERESTED IN SPREADING THE WORD TO YOUR NETWORK:
Contact us to become an organizational partner
DONATE TO BOM and Keep the MBBP Going
Black Owned Maine is a nonprofits and we rely heavily on our donors to keep us afloat. Vote with your dollars and consider donating to BOM.