Examining Inclusive Growth: Minority-Owned Firms in the Cleveland-Elyria MSA Brief

This report provides insight on minority business ownership in the 5-county Cleveland-Elyria Metropolitan Statistical Area (Cleveland MSA) using data from the 2007 and 2012 U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Business Owners. Minority-owned businesses in the Cleveland MSA represented 20% of all firms in 2012. The majority of these firms, 71%, were owned by African American entrepreneurs (24,618), while 14% (4,959 firms) were Asian-owned. Overall, Asian firms have higher combined sales than African American firms ($1.9 billion versus $972 million); resulting in higher sales per firm. Targeted public policies assisting in revenue generation in the African American business community can increase wealth and economic inclusion.