From R to L: Achilles Murray of J&T’s BBQ Sauce in San Jacinto; Onika Miller of My Space and Early Learning Time in Lemon Grove; The Origin Hip Hop Academy in San Diego with KUSI”s Kacey McKinnon; and Cassandra Schaeg of  SIP Wine & Beer in Escondido.

August is Black Business Month.  It’s a time to celebrate and acknowledge Black-owned businesses across the United States. We’ve recently put together a list of resources for Black-owned businesses in Southern California, where Black entrepreneurs can go to find out about all the fantastic local organizations committed to helping Black businesses start or grow in Southern California.

In addition, Accessity is spotlighting a few of the various businesses we’ve funded in our Southern California region:

  • SIP Wine & Beer

    Based in Escondido, owner Cassandra Schaeg started SIP Wine & Beer in 2015. Whether you are new to drinking wine or a seasoned connoisseur, SIP is the place to explore and indulge. Cassandra came to Accessity for startup capital for her new brick-and-mortar location in Central Escondido. Cassandra created five jobs through her business, and she specializes in supporting local women and BIPOC brands.

  • My Space and Early Learning Time

    Rooted in Lemon Grove, owner Onika Miller graduated from the Spring 2019 class of the Accessity Academy.  She received a loan from Accessity in 2021 to open her childcare center in Lemon Grove. Her goal is to promote early childhood education to a higher level. Her colorful space provides lots of activities for little ones.

  • J&T’s Homemade Bar-B-Que Sauce

    Located in San Jacinto, owner Achilles Murray has always loved food and the joy it brings to others. He closely observed the pitmasters at family barbecues and the line cooks during his time in the U.S. Marines. When he left the military, he came to Accessity in 2019 to manufacture his special sauce recipe and stock up on inventory. Achilles sells online nationally and at local farmers’ markets in the Inland Empire.

  • The Origin Hip Hop Performing Arts Academy

    From San Diego, owner Cheryl Frye opened The Origin Hip Hop Performing Arts Academy in June 2010. Her facility supports visual and performing arts through the hip-hop culture. To date, her business has served 1500+ youth, teens, and adults. Its mission is dedicated to supporting hip hop’s cultural, social, creative, and educational values. Cheryl came to Accessity towards the end of 2020, seeking funding to help support her business due to COVID closures. She received a COVID-19 relief loan to use for working capital and to help keep her business up and operating.  Cheryl was recently featured alongside Accessity on KUSI here.

There are other ways to support Black-owned businesses throughout August and all year long:

  • Seek out Black-owned businesses to shop and spend your money with.

Visit the new Accessity marketplace for Black-owned Accessity-funded businesses in your county. You can also visit ByBlack (sponsored by American Express and the U.S. Black Chambers) to search for Black-owned businesses near you.

  • Write and post reviews of great Black-owned shops and businesses.

Let your community know about your great experiences at Black-owned businesses and post a positive review on Yelp or Google Reviews.

  • Post about Black-owned businesses on social media.

Share on your social media pages about your favorite Black-owned businesses and encourage your friends to support them.

Accessity is proud to support Black-owned businesses in Southern California with funding up to $100K and a community of support. Accessity is more than a lender; we are a trusted partner committed to our client’s business success. If you’d like to learn more or see if you qualify for a business loan, contact our Accessity team here.