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Downtown Pittsburgh will soon have an expanded space dedicated to starting and promoting Black businesses through mentorship and networking.
Greenwood Plan, a Black-founded and Black-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic justice in Black communities through education, networking, and resources, recently announced its commitment to Smithfield Street and Boulevard through Greenwood Smithfield LLC. -Acquired the Pit Building on the corner of Of the Allies. subsidiary.
Founded in 2021 by Camille Bailey and Samantha Black, Greenwood Plan grew out of a week-long Black entrepreneurship conference called Greenwood Week. The program began in his 2018, bringing together local entrepreneurs to share experiences and resources.
“People believed, 'If someone comes from the same place as me and has the same hurdles, I can do it, too,'” says executive director Bailey. “From there, we decided to expand to a year-round program, and this nonprofit was born.”
Greenwood Week, a black business conference, is held each October. The conference will include networking, performances, and classes that fall into his five pillars of health: Environmental, Physical, Mental, Financial, and Spiritual.
“This year’s pep rally is almost here,” Bailey added. “Everyone is excited to start, run, and explore businesses.”
The Greenwood Plan focuses on intentional resource redirection, economic justice, business growth and retention, and socio-economic guidance. The goal is to remove barriers for black entrepreneurs.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools Gifted Center is a mostly white neighborhood in a mostly black neighborhood. Critics argue that the inequity metrics set the stage for racial bias in senior classes and other opportunities.
In addition to the Greenwood Week conference, Greenwood Plan hosts industry-specific summits and recently added an arts organizing program for creative entrepreneurs. We also provide $500 mini-grants to Black businesses to help reduce business costs.
It works with the state's Department of General Services to help black businesses win state contracts. We are also working with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Bridgeway Capital.
Chanel Ramea attended her first Greenwood Week conference in 2019 and began working in film and photography in Greenwood. She currently owns and operates Shannel Lamere Films.
“She has grown with us over the past four years,” Bailey said. “People offer their talents and treasures and come to us when they need what we can offer. It's often our audience.”
Permanent Space for Black Business Acceleration
Shortly after founding Greenwood Plans in 2021, Bailey received a LinkedIn message from the manager of America's Club coworking space, formerly located in the Pitt Building. The club was looking to bring in more diverse entrepreneurs. After the tour, I became a member of the Greenwood Plan.
“We found ourselves making coffee, tidying up our rooms, and just greeting people as they walked in the door,” Bailey said. “So we took a little bit of responsibility for it.”
In November 2021, Greenwood Plans signed a lease for the space and changed its name to Emerald City Pittsburgh. The 12,000-foot coworking space is dedicated to promoting Black entrepreneurship and wealth. That's when Bailey learned there were other vacancies in the building.
“We thought if we were going to fill a vacancy, we should probably own the building,” she added.
The effort received $1 million in support from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The space will be an incubation and accelerator space with commercial retail, mentorship programs and networking opportunities for Black business owners.
Black-owned, family-run Russell General Contracting is leading the consulting on the building renovation.
In addition to Emerald City, the three-story building houses the Cricket Wireless Store and Mutual Aid Nonprofit. The third floor, which is currently a gymnasium, will be used as an event and gathering space.
“It has vaulted ceilings and a breathtaking skylight,” Bailey added. “I always knew this would be the next space in this building because it needs to grab people’s attention.”
Renovation work on the third floor is scheduled to begin in February.
Pittsburgh has a rich history of Black entrepreneurship. Mr Bailey says this is the front line in creating new spaces and ensuring business leaders have the support they need.
“We want people to remember the history that already existed here,” Bailey says. “Black entrepreneurship is not new. Inevitably, Black entrepreneurship flourished.
“We are at a time where we need Black entrepreneurship to grow again so we can take care of the communities that exist here.”
Ethan Woodfill is a freelance journalist interested in telling the stories of people doing amazing work to build community and sustainability.
