Organizations band together to help minority-owned businesses through COVID-19

COVID-19 Groups banding together to help minority-owned businesses minority owned business help coronavirus By: Josh BazanPosted at 10:27 PM, May 02, 2020 and last updated 11:26 PM, May 02, 2020 CINCINNATI — Community organizations and leaders are working to raise thousands of dollars needed to help save minority-owned businesses in the Tri-State area hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. "As a general rule, minority-owned businesses tend to be smaller and have thinner capitalization," said Eric Kearney, president and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. He said, because of this, these businesses need extra support to survive an unprecedented economic and health emergency like the one brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help alleviate this, the Chamber is teaming up with Mortar and other groups to raise money for small businesses struggling to stay afloat. "I remember the very first day they decided to do the shutdown, we got multiple emails and phone calls and, literally, almost $4,000 worth of business canceled in one day," said Crystal Render, owner of Magnificent Morsels Catering. "So it was very real, very quick."