March 12, 2025 Story by: Editor
When Dr. Venis Wilder, a family medicine physician, returned to her hometown of Plantation from New York City in 2019, she sought to deepen her understanding of the link between diet and health.
Through her research, she discovered that excessive use of certain seasonings contributed to long-term health issues. “In the Black community, we cook with salts and seasonings that are causing more harm than good,” said Wilder, 40. That same year, she launched Aunt Alberta’s Spice House from her home in Plantation. Her business became one of nearly 4,000 Black-owned enterprises established in South Florida between 2017 and 2022.
A recent study on Black business growth in America found that South Florida experienced the second-largest rise in new Black-owned businesses during this period, trailing only the Atlanta metropolitan area. According to research from the Brookings Institution, the South Florida metro area saw the emergence of 3,972 new Black-owned businesses, reflecting a 77% increase.
Miami Dade College business professor Takevess Hatcher is not surprised by this surge. He noted that Black-owned businesses were vital to communities like Overtown before integration and gentrification reshaped the area. Referencing the work of local Black historian and author Marvin Dunn, Hatcher highlighted how Overtown saw a remarkable rise in Black-owned businesses, increasing from just 15 in 1900 to 146 by 1915.
“A lot of our businesses were started because of need, not because of greed,” Hatcher said. ”We needed our own schools because we couldn’t go to schools in other areas. We had our own businesses and enclaves for what we would need.” As a Black business owner himself, having founded a tax services company in 2012, Hatcher emphasizes to his students the importance of leveraging their business ideas and professional success to uplift their communities.
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| “Brookings Institution: Percentage Change in Characteristics of Black-Owned Businesses by Gender” |
The growth of businesses owned by Black women, including Wilder’s, is part of a broader national trend. The Brookings Institution reported that Black-woman-owned businesses grew by nearly 72% over the five-year period studied.
G. Eric Knowles, President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the historic entrepreneurial strength of Black women and was pleased to see data reflecting that reality. “When it comes to the Black community, Black women are always at the forefront, making their families’ lives better,” he said. Knowles also sees Miami as a supportive environment for Black and women entrepreneurs to network and exchange ideas. “South Florida is an incubator itself for openness and the camaraderie and coalescence of ideas,” he noted.
Though Wilder’s journey mirrors that of many local Black business owners, her venture was years in the making. Drawing on her medical expertise and her great-grandmother’s tradition of home remedies passed down through generations, Wilder developed the idea for her spice company. After extensive research and experimentation with five different spice blends, she officially launched Aunt Alberta’s Spice House in 2019.
Building a business in South Florida has presented challenges for Wilder. While she has learned about grants and support programs for Black entrepreneurs, she believes the available funding is insufficient. Additionally, she had to learn Spanish to better serve the region’s large Latino population. “The resources that other communities have, we don’t have as much access to,” she said. “[The grants and loans available] are not that great and also high interest. I’ve wondered how much debt I would have to get into for the business.”
Looking ahead, Wilder aims to transition into full-time entrepreneurship within the next five years, leaving her medical career behind. However, like many Black entrepreneurs, access to capital has delayed her plans. “I need to bet more on myself,” she said.
Despite these obstacles, Aunt Alberta’s Spice House is gaining momentum. Wilder has participated in more events in 2024 than in previous years, resulting in increased sales and heightened brand recognition. Knowles, the Miami-Dade Chamber president, is optimistic about the future of Black entrepreneurship in South Florida.
Reflecting on a recent pitch competition featuring Black health professionals, he expressed confidence in the next generation of business owners. “It’s not just Black businesses growing, but I see that [many of our] young people aren’t looking for a job; they’re looking to create opportunities for themselves,” he said. Considering the current political landscape, Knowles stressed the need for Black residents to actively support one another’s business endeavors. “If there’s ever a time for us to wake up and support one another, the time is now,” he said.
Source: Miami Herald
