DeLand Black-Owned Business Directory Launches Today

DeLand, FL –  DeLand’s first black-owned business directory, BlackBizDeLand.com, made its debut today, October 12. The website is a result of the Central Florida Foundation awarding a micro-grant to DeLand Pride in December of 2020 to Improve Racial Inclusivity in DeLand. Multiple Zoom meetings with representatives from DeLand’s black community, the city of DeLand, Volusia County, and Stetson University discussing how best to use the grant came to the conclusion that the most advantageous use was to create a black-owned business directory. For black-owned businesses, inclusion in the directory is free of charge. One DeLand business owner, Kimeca Caine, owner of Kinks, Coils, and Waves, said she hopes that BlackBizDeLand.com will help grow her business. “I am so excited for this opportunity. I’m really excited for it to spread statewide and maybe even nationwide. I really think it’s necessary.” Another business owner, Shanaqua Jackson, owner of Dash N Bros Bounce Houses, said that “As a black-owned business we don’t have access to certain resources to help cultivate our businesses in the community. Lots of times we don’t have adequate capital or marketing strategies which makes it hard to get our names out there for local support. I’m hoping this directory will get a lot of the deserving businesses the exposure needed to build a stronger economic community and thrive! There are tons of quality black-owned businesses that will be discovered on this directory and that’s one of the greatest benefits. ” The website was developed and will be maintained by Kimberly Cline, Communications, Press & Publicity Chair for the West Volusia Branch of the NAACP. DeLand Pride and the West Volusia NAACP invite the public to use this directory to make a positive difference in local economic equality.  “In no time, it was clear to see that we would be able to expand the scope of this project to include all of Volusia County,” according to Cline. Black-owned businesses are invited to submit a request at BlackBizDeLand.com,