About Us

What is a Business Alliance?

The NYSBBA is a large state-wide chamber of commerce.  Chambers of commerce are sometimes referred to as a board of trade, and is a network of businesses that operate on the local, regional and/or federal level.  It represents the business interests of its designated constituency or region. A Black Chamber of Commerce represents the business and economic interests of Black business, businesses who serve them, and Black business.  The New York State Black Business Alliance has a charter to represent it’s constituency throughout the state of New York by providing key resources for their growth and development, important business connections to other businesses of all sizes; and a voice within federal, state and local governments. The Alliance elects a governing board, executive, management, and operational level staff to serve the needs of its members and to set policy for the organization.

History of the Black Chamber of Commerce

After the Civil War, Black business ownership was minimal at best. Many places in the nation forbade Blacks from obtaining business licenses. Construction and farming were the major income providers until the turn of the century. The Industrial Revolution created a big demand for entrepreneurship and employment. This led to what became to be known as The First Migration; and it caused millions of Blacks to leave the South and populate Northern urban areas with the prospect of working in the factories.

A counter movement was created by the President of Tuskegee Institute, Booker T Washington, which encouraged Blacks to remain in the south and develop agribusiness and locally based retail to recycle their dollars and economically empower themselves. In 1990, Mr. Washington founded the Negro Business League. There were 40 plus chapters, providing economic activity and leadership within black communities from Texas to Maryland. The National Black Chamber of Commerce, (NBCC) a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, was later established in 1993 based on the vision of Mr. Washington. The NYSBBA is strategically aligned with the mission of the NBCC.

The NBCC was incorporated as The National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc., in 1993. It is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of Black communities. Chambers of Commerce, on the local level, are supported by this national organization, which recognizes that, Black businesses have a unique set of business challenges relative to other businesses throughout the United States. A Chamber of Commerce is not a governmental body or institution, and has no direct role in the writing and passage of laws and regulations that affect businesses. It may however, act as an advocate in an attempt to get laws passed that are favorable to businesses.

Unfortunately, due to the historical exclusion of Black Americans, woman and other ethnic and/or racial minorities from the business, educational systems and other opportunities in our society, a hiatus developed which has heretofore precluded many of these individuals from effectively participating in society at large and business in particular. For most of U.S. history, women and minorities were kept “in their place’ and this systematic discrimination has left a stain that is not easily erased. The intent of the NYSBBA is to eradicate this stain of exclusion by providing education, training and mentorship in life skills, business skills, and workplace skills, for Black Americans and other people who are similarly situated.

The intent of the New York State Black Business Alliance is to eradicate this stain of exclusion by providing education, training and mentorship in life skills, business skills, and workplace skills, for Black Americans and other people who are similarly situated. While providing a platform for New York’s Black business leaders, to speak with a collective voice, the NYSBBA advocates and promotes economic diversity while fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy.