FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
BEA@skdknick.com
WASHINGTON, DC – The Black Economic Alliance PAC (BEA PAC), a nonpartisan coalition of business leaders and allies supporting candidates who advance Black economicprogress and thereby grow the entire economy, today announced its endorsements of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. This announcement marks BEA PAC’s first slate of endorsed candidates at the mayoral level, building on the initial endorsement of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s successful re-election campaign.
As federal investments in local communities and economies are rolled back, BEA PAC is expanding its focus to elevate frontline leaders who are driving progress on Black work, wages, and wealth – and growing the economy for all. This work is especially important considering that the responsibility for advancing economic progress increasingly rests with the state and local leaders who are expanding opportunity and strengthening local economies.
“The fight for economic progress begins in local communities across America, where both the pain of economic retrenchment and the hope of better opportunity are most acutely felt. Mayor Dickens and Mayor Bibb have been consistent champions for equal economic opportunity and are exactly the type of leaders we need driving progress and prosperity for all,” said Samantha Tweedy, CEO of the Black Economic Alliance. “Their work to advance Black work, wages, and wealth revitalizes cities, strengthens the middle-class, and expands opportunity for all Americans.”
In Cleveland, Mayor Bibb has prioritized revitalizing historically disinvested neighborhoods through the Southeast Side Promise, which is using $15 million in COVID relief funds to increase homeownership and strengthen major commercial corridors. His administration also launched the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund, seeding it with $18 million to expand mixed-income housing opportunities, and created the Built Environment Collaborative to connect residents to training and jobs in construction and clean energy industries while growing the capacity of local small businesses.
“I’m honored to earn the support of the Black EconomicAlliance PAC, an organization that knows the future of our cities depends on growing wealth and opportunity for all Americans,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “In Cleveland, we’re continuing to invest in workforce development, small business growth, and neighborhood revitalization to make sure every resident, especially Blackfamilies who’ve too often been left out, has a fair shot at building and sustaining wealth.”
“Atlanta has long been a city that sets the standard for innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. With the support of the Black Economic Alliance PAC, we’ll continue building an economy rooted in inclusive growth,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “By expanding opportunity for Black families, we will strengthen the middle class, attract investment, and ensure Atlanta’s prosperity is shared by all.”
Mayor Dickens has focused on building economicopportunity in Atlanta by preserving and creating more than 11,000 affordable housing units, streamlining city processes to support small and Black-owned businesses, and launching the Year of the Youth initiative, which has connected over 16,000 young people to paid jobs and internships. While Dickens has been mayor, Invest Atlanta has expanded access to capital and down payment assistance to help first-time homebuyers build wealth and stability.
Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to advancing equitable economic development and removing barriers to wealth-building, helping more Black Americans access opportunities to build lasting wealth, strengthen their communities, and grow the economy for everyone.
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About the Black Economic Alliance PAC
Black Economic Alliance PAC is a coalition of business leaders and aligned allies committed to expanding economic progress and prosperity in the Black community — and in so doing, growing the entire U.S economy. We are using our collective power and business acumen to advance candidates of all backgrounds committed to advancing a Black work, wages, and wealth agenda. If you’d like to support BEA PAC’s advocacy for Black economicprogress and support candidates for office who are committed to improving work, wages, and wealth for BlackAmericans, visit https://pac.blackeconomicalliance.org/.
