Atlanta, GA
Blacklanta directory promotes Atlanta Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship
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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Before you plan your next night out, test out a new workout class, or choose a tutor for your child, the woman behind “Blacklanta” encourages you to utilize her online directory for Black-owned businesses.
Raven Strode, Blacklanta CEO, said she realized a need for a centralized directory for Atlanta Black businesses in 2019.
“Being in Atlanta there are so many Black-owned businesses and it’s a hub for everything Black,” said Strode.
Hundreds of businesses are organized into various categories on the site, including food and drink, home improvement, beauty, health, education, travel, and more.
Georgia boasts one of the highest rates of Black-owned businesses in the country, with Atlanta becoming a mecca for these opportunities. However, just 7.4 percent of metro Atlanta businesses are Black-owned.
Despite the disparity in minority entrepreneurship, Strode said she has seen tremendous growth amongst Black businesses since launching Blacklanta.
“It’s a very exciting time for Black business owners,” she said. “There are so many resources, so many people who want to help. And the help is out there, you have to look for it and create your own opportunities as well.”
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Black-owned businesses in the U.S. increased 14 percent from 2017 to 2020.
That growth creates a ripple effect for Black entrepreneurship.
“The most important thing is representation,” said Strode. “You gain so much inspiration from those people to look at them and say, ‘Hey, this is something I could do – start my own business as well.’”
Analysis by Pew Research reports Black adults make up 12.4 percent of the U.S. population. However, just 3 percent of businesses are Black or African-American owned.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.

Atlanta, GA
Developer hopes to create a ‘city within the city’ along Atlanta’s Beltline
From thousands of affordable and luxury housing units to a community with schools, restaurants, and hotels, a developer wants to transform dozens of acres of property along the Beltline in Southwest Atlanta.
The 25-acre property off Sylvan Road SW currently includes vacant lots and empty warehouses.
However, developer Mike Abebe hopes to transform his property into a community where people can live, work, and play.
“This would impact the whole city of Atlanta,” Abebe said.
The high school dropout and Ethiopian immigrant is one of the largest single private landowners in the city and said he plans to create a development that promotes investment in the inner city of Atlanta.
“For me, my entire career has been in inner cities, and I’ve seen inner cities being de-invested instead of invested in,” added Abebe.
Abebe is partnering with the architectural firm Perkins and Will to design the renderings of the proposed development.
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He plans to create over 4,000 residential units, which will include both luxury and affordable housing, in addition to places for people to work and send their children to school.
“If you live here, we want to create enough jobs so you can work here. And if you’re a single mom, you can drop off your child by walking. You can pick up your child by walking,” Abebe shared.
Members of the Atlanta City Council recently reviewed the request to allow a zoning change for the development of the land.
If the zoning application is approved, Abebe said he wants construction on phase one of the project to begin in the spring of 2026.
He said the project is estimated to cost over $1 billion and will take about 10 years to complete.
“We have a lot of international investment interest because of the sheer scale and size of this,” Abebe said.
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Atlanta, GA
Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively’s Status Revealed For Tonight’s Game vs Atlanta

After being listed on the injury report coming into tonight’s game vs the Hawks, the Mavericks have updated the status of both Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively. They are both available to play, but Lively will have a 15-minute limit tonight. Earlier today, the Mavs ruled out P.J. Washington.
Lineup alert: Dereck Lively II (ankle) will be limited to 15 minutes Wednesday, per coach Kidd.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 2, 2025
The Hawks were beaten up on the glass last night vs Portland and had a poor three-point shooting night. Can they turn those things around tonight vs Dallas?
It was an ugly night for the Hawks on offense, shooting 44% from the field and 22% (7-32) from three, as well as committing 19 turnovers, of which Portland scored 23 points. While the three-point shooting and the turnovers were a big problem, the rebounding was arguably the biggest reason the Hawks lost. Portland outrebounded the Hawks 54-45, including 19 offensive rebounds for the Blazers. Portland shot the ball 11 more times than the Hawks and hit six more threes as well. When you lose the possession battle and the three-point battle, it almost guarantees a loss.
Trae Young scored 29 points (7-20 shooting) and handed out 15 assists. Dyson Daniels had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. No other Hawk had more than 13 points. It was a rough night for Zaccharie Risacher, who scored just nine points one game after setting his career high against Milwaukee. The Hawks’ bench was mostly non-existent tonight, as none of Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Vit Krejci, Terance Mann, or Dominick Barlow were particularly effective.
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Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves Holdings acquires six-building ‘Pennant Park’ office complex adjacent to The Battery Atlanta

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