HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2022.08.17 - 37546
August 17, 2022
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #22-294
Sponsored By: Janet Jackson, Gwen Markham, Kristen Nelson, Charles Cavell
Board of Commissioners - Resolution Designating August of 2022 as Black Business Month in Oakland
County
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS the month of August is observed as National Black Business Month, recognizing the successes,
milestones, and historical progress of Black businesses and entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS National Black Business Month was created in 2004 by historian John William Templeton and
engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr. to bring attention to the needs of more than two million Black-owned
businesses operating across America; and
WHEREAS throughout history, despite facing systemic racism, redlining, and even extreme violence, as
evidenced through the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, Black businesses continue to grow and thrive throughout the
nation; and
WHEREAS despite being systematically isolated from investment capital, development resources, and digital
visibility, businesses owned by Black women nationwide have increased by a 12% annual growth rate over the
last year, compared to 8% between 2014 and 2019. Additionally, Black women-owned businesses account for
21% of all women-owned businesses in the United States; and
WHEREAS Black businesses have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, which forced many
businesses to close, and has resulted in a 40% drop in Black business ownership nationwide; and
WHEREAS there are more Black or African-American businesses in Oakland County than any county in the
state except Wayne County. These businesses also contribute more than $288.2 billion in annual payroll into the
local economy; and
WHEREAS this year, as Black businesses continue to recover from economic losses onset by the pandemic,
National Black Business Month deserves to be recognized, supported and celebrated.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners designates
August 2022 as National Black Business Month in Oakland County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners encourages local government officials,
community leaders and Oakland County residents to focus efforts on supporting Black-owned businesses and
creating a more hospitable environment in which Black-owned businesses can grow. Black businesses are
essential to the people and communities they serve and operate in.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Janet Jackson, Gwen
Markham, Kristen Nelson, Charles Cavell.
Date: August 18, 2022
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: August 18, 2022
David Coulter, Oakland County Executive
Date: August 19, 2022
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-08-17 Full Board - Request for Suspension of Board Rules Granted; Adopted
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Janet Jackson seconded by Commissioner Robert Hoffman to adopt the attached
Resolution: Designating August of 2022 as Black Business Month in Oakland County.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen Kowall,
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn, Chuck Moss, Marcia
Gershenson, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary McGillivray, Robert
Hoffman, Adam Kochenderfer (20)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on August 17, 2022,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk / Register of Deeds