Hippin Hops owner Clarence Boston photographed at his East Atlanta Village location. Photo by Dean Hesse.
By Logan C. Ritchie
Black-owned businesses in DeKalb County are being celebrated this month in honor of Black History Month.
In a social media campaign called “Look at Us,” Decide DeKalb is featuring one business leader each Tuesday and Thursday during February across retail, construction, beauty and veterinarian industries.
Decide DeKalb serves as the primary facilitator of business development and job growth throughout the county.
Imani Beckles, Business Retention and Expansion manager of Decide DeKalb, said the campaign is an opportunity to identify what is most needed and build strategic approaches to help.
“Small businesses have experienced unprecedented challenges since March 2020,” said Dorian DeBarr, president of Decide DeKalb. “While Decide DeKalb is committed to assisting all businesses in the county, acknowledging the unwavering perseverance and determination of some of our black entrepreneurs during Black History Month is more than appropriate.”
C.D. Moody Construction in Lithonia is one of the largest Black-owned construction companies in the United States, having worked on Mercedes Benz, Atlanta History Center and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
“Entrepreneurship is not easy. Being a black entrepreneur is even harder. However, I am a testament to what can happen when you dream big and never give up working hard and believing in your dreams,” said Moody.
Other “Look at Us” participants include McBride Research Laboratories in Decatur, Bear and Honey Candle Company in Atlanta, Brave + Kind Bookshop in Decatur, East Atlanta Animal Clinic in Atlanta, Squash Blossom Boutique in Decatur, Apple-Butter Bakery in Stone Mountain, Hippin’ Hops Brewery in Atlanta and Skinfinity Esthetics in Dunwoody.
Read the original story on TuckerObserver.com.
