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Greater Durham Black Chamber asks county for deeper access to economic‑development tools and $100,000 annual support
Summary
CJ Broderick, president and CEO of the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce, recapped contractor work since 2021 supporting local Black entrepreneurs and asked the board to expand the chamber’s access to county economic‑development tools — and requested $100,000 per year to scale data systems, recruitment, marketing and staffing to help Black businesses grow.
CJ Broderick, president and CEO of the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce, briefed the board on nearly five years of county contracting to support Black entrepreneurs and asked that the organization be given broader access to economic‑development tools and resources.
"Our mission is to support the growth and development of black entrepreneurs, black businesses, and the black business ecosystem," Broderick said, summarizing the chamber’s mission, program outputs and lessons learned from work funded since 2021. Broderick highlighted that the chamber has produced workshops, provided one‑on‑one technical assistance, and collected data on participants, and argued that Black businesses remain underrepresented in higher‑value contracting and recruitment opportunities.
He requested increased partnership, data access and $100,000 per year to support staff, marketing, recruitment, retention and data systems to better connect Black businesses to contracts and growth opportunities. Commissioners and staff discussed confidentiality limitations around incentive negotiations and suggested possible next steps, including an RFP, pilot collaborations with city economic‑development partners, and follow‑up data on outcomes the chamber produces. The board agreed to follow up through staff and to consider paths that preserve confidentiality while improving outreach and access.
