City governments, especially mayors’ offices, play a significant role in advancing shared prosperity. Targeting support to Black-owned businesses is one way for cities to promote shared prosperity. These businesses face greater barriers to accessing resources, capital, connections, and new markets because of long-standing racial discrimination. The stark disparity between the percentage of Black-owned businesses and the Black population in cities underscores the need to address systemic barriers to Black entrepreneurship and economic success. 

This project explores how cities can boost local economic prosperity by advancing Black wealth building. Our research will equip mayors with recommendations to more effectively support Black-owned businesses through policies, practices, partnerships, and advocacy.