AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Since 2017, the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce has highlighted the black-owned, women-owned, minority-owned or disadvantaged businesses throughout the CSRA.

August is Black Business Month and an official with the GABCC says the summit is an event where these businesses are able to network and share more about what they do.

“Augusta has a thriving Black business community so that is something that we want to continue to highlight, something that people need to know happens on our table we have the QR code so people can check out our directory and see over 200 plus members that are a part of our membership and that is something we want to continue to share,” said Shagraila Hammond, Program Manager for the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce.

Hammond says they allow themselves to be the conduit between government, business and community.

A business owner I spoke with explains more about what she does.

“I’m a private chef so I go to different places and I cook for people. I’m also in the process of opening up my own cooking school so that will be OnSite Cooking Academy where if people want to come and do date night, or if they want to have their children come and cook or they just want a group setting,” says Kia Bolton, Owner of OnSite Mobile Cook & Sip.

Bolton says she is grateful to be a part of the Black Business Summit and to see her table getting attention.

“It actually feels good to be here, to be networking and like you said my table has been bumping since I got here, you know just networking and getting myself out there. It actually makes me feel good that people are coming to my table telling me  that they’ve seen me and they’re like ‘oh wait I want to try her because she does health conscious foods’ I’m really grateful,” Bolton said.

If you missed the event this year, it always takes place during the last week in August.