Finding black-owned businesses in your area just got a lot easier with the launch of new smartphone app, “Around the Way.”
The app, a partnership between the U.S. Black Chambers and developers Around The Way, allows users to locate any of the estimated 1.9 million black-owned businesses in the United States utilizing the GPS feature built into their phones.
U.S. Black Chambers President Ron Busby Sr. said the new app is an extension of the organization’s objectives, which include building a database of African American-owned businesses nationwide.
“This partnership with Around The Way is an important first step,” he said in a statement. “Through the app, supporters of black business can quickly access the location of businesses, no matter where they are in the country.”
“We believe Around The Way provides an important tool in our quest to strengthen black business,” he added.
Members of the U.S. Black Chamber’s 110 affiliate chambers nationwide will get premium listings, including having their locations highlighted on local maps with the USBC logo.
The Around The Way app can be downloaded for free on Android and iPhones. The app uses the GPS technology imbedded in the phone to locate the user, then lists all the black-owned businesses within a 5-mile radius.
“We can’t imagine a more natural evolution, a better way to improve both the awareness of the number of black-owned businesses and increase their bottom lines,” said Busby. “[This is] an excellent app for the black community. America’s black businesses and the consuming public will benefit tremendously – all by clicking an app on their phone!”
