COLLEGE TOWN, FL — An upcoming event in Railroad Square is putting the spotlight on Black-owned startups and first-time business owners. Black Biz Tally’s second annual Black Business Shower aims to connect entrepreneurs with the tools, funding, and guidance needed to grow.
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Black Biz Tally hosts 2nd Annual Black Business Shower to support new entrepreneurs
An upcoming event in Railroad Square is putting the spotlight on Black-owned startups and first-time business owners. Black Biz Tally’s second annual Black Business Shower aims to connect entrepreneurs with the tools, funding, and guidance needed to grow.
Gadsden County is home to many small, family-owned businesses — often started by first-time entrepreneurs working to turn a vision into reality. In a county where access to funding, mentorship, and business resources can be limited, building and sustaining a business can be especially challenging.
That’s where Black Biz Tally steps in. This year marks the second annual Black Business Shower — an event created to support new and first-time Black business owners with tools, connections, and guidance.
“Black business represent less than 5% of all business here in the United States and even lower for those that are funded so it is deeply important that we come together and support Black owned businesses,” said Venise Toussaint the Black Biz Tally founder.
One of the businesses participating is KIS Tutoring, a Gadsden County-based company owned by Clarissa York. Her tutoring program serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade, focusing on literacy and math intervention while providing individualized academic support to families.
KIS Tutoring started in April 2025 — nearly a year ago. York is a Gadsden County native who grew up in the Gadsden County School District and has worked as a teacher in the district since she was just 21 years old.
York says she wishes there were more events like this in Gadsden County — pointing to the large number of small, locally owned businesses that could benefit from added support and visibility.
“Targeting those small businesses, those Black owned businesses would be a benefit to the county if we could get more events more pop up events that are hosted here within the county it would be a great help,” York said.
York says resources like Black Biz Tally are especially important in a predominantly Black county like Gadsden — where increased support could help more businesses not just start, but thrive locally.
“Being that it is geared towards new businesses that were recently created within the last year, I felt that it is a great tool to get the word out about KIS and the resources we have to offer.” York said.
The Black Business Shower takes place February 15 in Railroad Square. Black Biz Tally is also open every Saturday for Shop Black Saturday and on the first Friday of every month.
Organizers say the focus is on uplifting Black-owned businesses while strengthening the communities they serve during Black History Month.
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