Denver Directory ‘Little Black Book’ returns to empower Black Business
Sylvia Lambe
The Little Black Book (LBB), an annually published resource and entertainment guide, highlighting Denver's Black-owned businesses, launches its return after a one-year Covid hiatus on February 24.
The free hardcopy which will now also be available in digital format, on Flipbook, profiles the stories of community leaders and business owners and lists a wide range of African American companies from DJ services and restaurants to coaching consultants and non-profit organizations all based in the Denver Metro area.
During Black History Month 2019, the LBB, was first unveiled as the companion of DenverBlackPages.com (DBP), an online portal that serves as a business directory, community calendar, and leisure activity guide for everything Black in the city.
Both are the creation of Carla Ladd, the CEO of a black woman-owned company. She developed the original DBP in 2002, after recognizing the absence of a Denver Black-focused online business and events listings.
“Our 2022 LBB edition, is to not only support business, organizations, and movements but to also invigorate growth and demand for goods and services generated by Denver’s Black community, post-pandemic. Over the years, we’ve seen businesses come and go but nothing compares to the businesses that were forced to close because of the devastating consequences of COVID-19. Carla Ladd says.
Figures from the Small Business Association show that Black-owned businesses saw three times the decline in business activity compared to other racial and ethnic groups owing to the effects of the global virus.
Therefore in such a difficult trading climate, LBB's comeback is considered a welcome return by many organizations and viewed as a vital resource in continuing to identify Black-owned companies and help African American small businesses expand their marketing efforts.
“ The book (LBB) is a comprehensive tool that will assist business owners in marketing their goods, services, and events to Denver's Black residents and visitors. I share the mission of Denver Black pages in seeking to empower Colorado's small Black businesses.”
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says.
The printed LBB is freely available from Feb 24, 2022, from Colorado Convention Center, Denver International Airport, Blair-Caldwell Library, Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, Welton Street Café, Coffee at the Point, Tea Lee’s, Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Church.
The LBB is also available online @ https://bit.ly/2022LBB_Flipbook