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n 1970, a group of men and women, concerned about the plight of Small Business owners in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), met in the basement of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, located on Laney – Walker, too form the nucleus of an organization that would become the CSRA Business League. The organizers, meeting under the guidance of the National Business League in Washington, DC decided to take action and address the fact that Small Business owners in the City of Augusta and surrounding counties that make up the Central Savannah River Area had been systemically denied equal access to the Economic Development process.

The number one goal of the newly formed organization was to create a vision that would change the direction and the economic condition of Minority Business owners, as such the Business League began to champion the cause for Small Businesses owner to take their right seat at the table, whether it was locally, state – wide or nationally.

For more than 50 years, the Business League has never strayed away from its mission of providing service and being a voice for Small, Minority, Disadvantaged, Women and Veteran owned businesses throughout the area.

The League has for over 50 years worked to ensure that once closed doors, would be swung open for Minority Business enterprises to walk through and take their right seat at the table of economic prosperity. Throughout its 50 years of service, through staff changes, funding shortages and restructured services the League has stayed the course in assisting Minority, Disadvantaged, and Women owned Small Businesses overcome the increased hurdles faced by Minority owned firms.

Over the years, the Business League have been funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the City of Augusta, while also building relationships with local financial institutions. Currently the League is being funded through the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) at the University of Georgia. And our Youth Entrepreneur Program, founded to development the next generation of business owners through the Augusta – Richmond County Housing and Community Development Department.

As the anniversaries continue, the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer have stayed true to the mission of continuing to improve the small minority business sector. It is clear to the leadership of the League what our mission is and what it will continue to be, we will never stop advocating for the need and the existence of minority business owners. All efforts will be put towards securing the future for minority business Enterprise firms.

With the experience, knowledge and skills obtained over the past 50 plus years, our mission is clear, we must serve our community by championing the cause of Small, Minority, Disadvantaged, Women and Veteran firms in the CSRA.

13th Annual Women Empowerment Conference Sponsored by AB Beverage Company