Kansas City residents looking to support Black-owned businesses now have a new resource in hand.
Kansas City G.I.F.T., a nonprofit organization focused on building Black wealth and supporting Black entrepreneurship, has launched the Kansas City Black Business Passport, a free printed guide highlighting Black-owned restaurants, entertainment venues and businesses throughout the metro.
The pocket-sized guide features 15 Black-owned restaurants and 15 Black-owned arts and entertainment venues. A QR code inside the publication connects users to an expanded digital directory featuring more than 50 additional Black-owned businesses across the Kansas City area.
The guide is designed to make it easier for residents and visitors to discover, support and spend money with Black-owned businesses.
“It is important for us to continue to identify innovative ways that we can drive support to Black-owned businesses in a way that fosters economic equity,” said Brandon Calloway, CEO and co-founder of Kansas City G.I.F.T. “As a community, it is up to us to actively create the world we want to see. This guide offers a clear and tangible way for people to take action to support local Black entrepreneurs.”
Kansas City G.I.F.T. — which stands for Generating Income For Tomorrow — was founded in 2020 with a mission of helping close the racial wealth gap by creating and supporting sustainable Black-owned businesses and employers in Black communities. The organization provides funding opportunities, business development support and other resources for Black entrepreneurs throughout the region.
The Black Business Passport is available free of charge at the Kansas City G.I.F.T. Business Center, 5008 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO, and at several partner locations, including The Combine, Urban Restaurant, Equal Minded Cafe, The Bevel Barber Lounge, Fetch KC, Boulevard Brewing Co., Mildred’s South Plaza, Tiki Taco locations, Arvest Bank branches and the Prospect Business Association’s Union Station pop-up location.
Organizers hope the guide will encourage residents to intentionally support Black-owned businesses while exploring new restaurants, cultural destinations and entrepreneurs across the metro.
For more information, visit KansasCityGift.org.
