For decades, Black‑owned businesses have powered communities, generated jobs, and cultivated innovation — yet they have often remained invisible in mainstream directories and investment pipelines. Today, Emerald Book announces a decisive answer to that invisibility: The 100 Black Businesses Project, a curated business map of the nation's top Black‑owned companies, spanning industries from retail and fitness to healthcare and hospitality.

The initiative, which launched in early January 2026, has now successfully completed mapping in all 10 major metro areas with the highest Black populations. From New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Miami, Emerald Book has vetted and featured 100+ Black-owned businesses that are ready for scaled partnership and investment.

The project is published digitally and can be found here, with an accompanying interactive map. Selection relies on a blend of quantitative metrics — revenue growth, employee count, years in business — and qualitative indicators: community investment, innovation, and future scalability.

Completed Metro Areas: 10 Cities, 100+ Businesses

The following metro areas have been fully mapped and published. Each city features 10-18 hand-selected Black-owned businesses across retail, food & beverage, wellness, professional services, and more. Click on any city to view its businesses on the interactive map.

Features by City (Top 5)

Atlanta, GA →

Philadelphia, PA →

Los Angeles, CA →

Washington, DC →

Houston, TX →

Dallas, TX →

New York, NY →

Detroit, MI →

Miami, FL →

Chicago, IL →

A Living Tool, Not a Trophy Wall

Unlike traditional "top" lists that gather dust, the Emerald Book Business Map is designed to be used. Each entry includes direct contact information, certification status, and a breakdown of the products or services the business offers. Corporate procurement officers, municipal governments, and individual consumers can filter by industry and location.

The 100 Black Businesses Project arrives at a critical moment — as the Trump economy destabilizes markets, slashes federal support for minority entrepreneurs, and deepens economic uncertainty for Black communities nationwide. Tariffs, deregulation, and cuts to small business programs have hit Black-owned businesses especially hard, making visibility and consumer connection more essential than ever. By aggregating vetted, high‑impact businesses, Emerald Book provides a direct line between Black enterprises and the customers, institutions, and investors who want to support them — moving the conversation from "buy Black" sentiment to sustained economic habit.