Breaking Barriers to Small Business

Threat of being pushed out of the communities they helped build.

The Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN) is here to change that.


We’re a city-rooted, nationally-connected coalition committed to keeping Atlanta’s small businesses in place and in power. With a focus on equity and economic justice, we bring together nonprofits, business owners, researchers, and funders to:

  • Create anti-displacement strategies tailored to Atlanta’s rapidly changing neighborhoods

  • Equip local organizations and city agencies with the tools to support small business resilience

  • Track data and trends to spotlight risk zones and shape proactive policy

  • Strengthen partnerships between developers, policymakers, and community leaders

  • Unlock funding and technical assistance for businesses vulnerable to displacement

Breaking Barriers to Business

  • The Issue (Historic Wealth Disparities & Lack of Access, Exacerbated by the Pandemic)

  • The Opportunity (Accelerating Wealth Building For Black and Brown Entrepreneurs)

  • Project Overview (Building Change Through Thoughtful, Impact-Driven Connections)

  • The Cities

  • Impact and Response

B3 Corridor Projects - Historic West End

The B3 Corridor Projects champion economic growth, cultural preservation, and entrepreneurial development in Atlanta’s Historic West End.


These initiatives blend heritage, resilience, and business empowerment to ignite a thriving future.

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GAP Micro Revolving Loan Fund


GAP -  (Giving Assistance Purposefully)

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Providing business training
essentials

1 on 1 Coaching

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Marketing West End’s Afro-centric Uniqueness


A View From Behind and Insight into the Future

GAP Micro Revolving Loan Fund    GAP -  (Giving Assistance Purposefully)


To assist business owners with GAP funding for unexpected emergencies, shortfalls, business enhancements, and personal developmental growth in the West End business district of Atlanta, GA.

Financial assistance and professional development. This project includes four major components to accompany the loan disbursement..

a. Micro loan - loan will be awarded to qualified business owners for projects that will stabilize or enhance a businesses position.  Businesses must meet basic criteria (legal and administrative), be a member of WEMC (membership can be a part of the loan), show ability to pay back the low interest loan within the agreed upon time, and provide a compelling statement that verifies the loan is a GAP loan and not just a patch. Our financial partner LISC, will hold, invest, and administer the funds through a money market interest bearing account, and administer the loan process. 

b. Knowledge capital assistance - will accompany the award in an area related to the loan or identified as beneficial to the businesses development. The application process will help identify what area of business development is most needed to help the issue and/or the business. Training will occur monthly with individual assignments.  Our GAP loan program, fashioned after the Grameen model has a strong educational program that is flexible, customized, and interactively supportive by peer to peer engagement. We recently partnered with Operation Hope to help advise the process and give our business access to other avenues of knowledge power.

c. Support Circle - Awardees will be assigned to a structured peer group where exchange can trigger new thinking, help solve problems, form a space for mental release, and build relationships with other entrepreneurs. Support circles will meet for 30 min, once or twice a month at a general time good for most business owners. Circle format will include check in, feedback, exchange, and training. 

The support circle is mandatory for the life of the loan.

d. The fund replenishment process – will help sustain the program. Although the loan is low interest, a % of the payback funds will go to the loan administrator and a % to the sponsoring organization (WEMC).  In addition to repayment funds we will seek matching dollars through grants and sponsorships.  

Providing business training essentials and 1 on 1 coaching


The Minding Your Business (MYB) program provides opportunities through training and information sharing  for West End businesses to strengthen assets, be proactive to change, and remain fortified to stimulate strong economic growth. Out of this program, we have developed the Scale Up Initiative - working one on one with B3 business owners to audit their finances and focus on preparation for future funding. Identify short and long term financial goals such as expansion and commercial real estate acquisition. Once they are prepared to qualify for City funding, they will be in position for other traditional funding products and opportunities..

Marketing West End’s Afro-centric Uniqueness

A View From Behind and Insight into the Future

Telling the cultural significance of the West End's cultural history and future.- West End is one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods dating back to 1835. This community has weathered decades of change making it resilient, while keeping it relevant. WE legacy businesses are iconic placeholders in history with stories to be told. Insight for future prosperity – is now in the hands of future generations of small businesses of color to maintain the spirit and flavor of the West End’s strong Afro-centric heritage.

What's next

In the next couple of years of the project, we plan to:

  • Develop a cohort model for ecosystem builders to connect with peers leading this work across the nation.

  • Continue encouraging local municipalities to collaborate and support local neighborhood community-based organizations that support entrepreneurs.

  • Support a physical project or programming in each corridor to support the continued development of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.

The Cities

The impact of the pandemic on small business owners of color especially was, and still is, most severe in the Southest region on the United States. Leadership from cities, across the Southest were invited to apply for the opportunity to join the cohort - out of these, the following five were selected

Atlanta Georgia

Org/Corridors

Sweet Auburn Works, CDC

West End Merchant Association Grove Park Foundation

Charlotte North Carolina

Org/Corridors

Historic West End PartnershipWest Blvd Business  AssociationSugar Creek Business Association

Miami Florida


Org/Corridors

Allapattah Collaborative CDCOvertown Business Association

Memphis Tennessee

Org/Corridors

Respect the Haven, CDC Raleigh, CDC 

Klondike

Nashville Tennessee

Org/Corridors

North Nashville

Southeast Antioch

Wedgewood Houston

Theory of Change

Business serving agencies (BSAs) in local government and business serving organizations (BSOs) in commercial corridors of color have a direct role in making the entrepreneurial ecosystem, equitable. Living Cities (LC) and Main Street America (MSA), supported by Truist Foundation, believe that if we remove systemic barriers between BSAs and BSOs, then we can enable the acceleration of wealth-building among business owners of color in Southeast U.S. cities and corridors.

Stay up-to-date on our efforts

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