QA Celebrates Minority-Owned Business Program Initiative
Published in MyEasternShoreMD | September 2024
CENTREVILLE — A collaborative initiative to strengthen minority-owned businesses presented its first inaugural class to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners Sept. 10.
Funded through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund, which is supported by the Maryland Department of Commerce and Upper Shore Regional Council and administered through Queen Anne’s County Economic and Tourism Development, the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator (META) pilot program provided tailored mentoring, networking opportunities, and strategic resources to help small minority-business owners overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
Presenting certificates of achievements to participants, Rebecca Murphy, founding consultant of Upper Shore Community Development Founder and Chief Strategist noted META was created with the belief that diversity and entrepreneurship strengthen communities and economy.
“It is with great pride and joy that we congratulate the graduates of the inaugural class of the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator program today at this commissioners meeting. We celebrate not only their accomplishments but also the bright futures that each of them is carving out in our community,” she said.
“META is a six-month intensive business development and coaching program aimed at providing a cohort of small minority businesses with the resources they need to scale,” said Sam Shoge, cofounder and partner of Rivers and Roads Consulting, who served as program facilitator and coach.
The program intends to close the knowledge resource and funding gap between minority-owned and non-minority owned businesses, he said.
Data is applied across all minority businesses including women-owned and veteran-owned, he said, and the importance of the program is noted in the disparities between minority and non-minority-owned businesses, he said.
The average revenue of black sole proprietorships versus non-minority sole proprietorships is $22,000 versus $50,000 respectively, according to Shoge.
On average non-minority owned businesses are six times larger than black-owned businesses, he said.
A total of 15 applications from women and minority-owned businesses were received in 2023 and five Queen Anne’s County businesses were selected to participate in the inaugural program, he said.
Participants included Moniesha Baynard, owner of Three Guys and a Girl Personal Chef and Catering; Diane Moorman-White, owner of DMW Soul Fitness; Timeka Wheeler, owner of Long Live Assisted Living; Deayna Ewell, owner of Onyx Beauty Supply Salon Barbershop; and Ebony Johnson, owner of Tips and Toes Nail Studio.
The six-month program at the Kent Island Library began its first seminar in February 2024 and concluded in August.
META entailed monthly business development seminars including a variety of topics such as market strategy, business planning, sales and customer service, bookkeeping best practices, licensing and regulation as well as personal coaching, Shoge said.
A key aspect of the program was how entrepreneurs can partner and collaborate and support fellow community small businesses, he said.
“Our secretary of commerce Secretary (Micheal) Gill always said that economic development is a team sport and that is very much reflected in this program here,” Shoge said.
“Officials were very happy with the outcome and success of the program, with many participants reporting increased revenues,” Shoge said.
Transitioning from a 36-year veterinary career, participant Moorman-White, credited the program with giving her the push and the confidence to prove to herself she could turn her “side-gig” into a full-time career.
“Probably the biggest thing the META program has done for me was it changed my mindset. I am now recognizing the power I possess to achieve my goals both big and small,” she said.
