South Madison Just Got A New Black Business Hub

A new Black Business Hub has opened in South Madison, Wisconsin.

Spearheaded by the Urban League of Greater Madison, the $25.5 million facility aims to provide resources and space for Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

A Hub for Business Growth and Community

The Black Business Hub, located on South Park Street, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 24, 2024. marking the completion of a project that began more than two years ago.

The facility features four floors of retail, office, coworking spaces, and a commercial kitchen.

Madison 365 reports that the hub will serve as a central ecosystem to support over 100 Black-owned businesses, offering financial services, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

Dr Ruben Anthony, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison, spoke at the grand opening.”What I see here is a community that understands that building bridges, working together, and finding common ground is the only way forward in 21st-century America.”

Closing the economic gap

The hub was designed to help close the economic gap for Black entrepreneurs in Madison.

“There are 10,000 businesses in Dane County that have more than only one employee,” said Anthony, per WKOW. “Only four-tenths of a percent of those businesses are Black-owned businesses. We believe here at the Black Business Hub that we are going to change those numbers.”

By providing essential resources, including mentoring from the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, event spaces, and classrooms, the hub is a step toward economic equity.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway said: “The city of Madison supports the hub because it aligns with our community’s collective vision for addressing the needs and opportunities of a part of town that for too many years has not seen the investment that it deserves.”