Baltimore's Backbone
How Small Businesses Sustain 'Smalltimore'
Influx of millions boosts hope for Mondawmin small businesses owners
In June 2023, a group of Maryland’s U.S. senators and congressmen announced a $20 million grant to support the improvement of Mondawmin Station, one of Baltimore’s busiest transit hubs. The renovation of Mondawmin’s Frederick Douglass High School, which is planned…
Printing and battle-rapping: How two Baltimore businesses connect and prosper
Belair-Edison merchants aim to forge bonds, invigorate neighborhood
BALTIMORE — When a client enters JNB Beauty on Belair Road, owner Tunde Tenabe greets them instantly. Warmly. Motherly. Hurrying to help a customer, she lays out her inventory and even checks the weather to ensure appropriate clothing recommendations. She…
Nurturing health, mind and community in Belair-Edison
BALTIMORE – Triana and Shelton Flemming beamed with pride when they spoke about their son, Amaree. In recent years, however, they felt challenged as parents. The Baltimore couple wanted to round out Amaree’s upbringing, increase his confidence and help him…
Mothers of Baltimore: Local women try to overcome lack of child care
Bakery reinvigorates Druid Heights with sweet rolls and art
BALTIMORE – Since opening The Avenue Bakery to revive economic opportunities and Pennsylvania Avenue’s rich entertainment history, James Hamlin feels unsatisfied with the progress. “This is a diamond in the rough,” Hamlin said. “In order to change Baltimore, to change…
She works four jobs, and thrives
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Over the last four months, eight reporters at Capital News Service met with more than 70 small business owners and staff across Baltimore to understand how they survive in the era of big box stores and online shopping. Their reporting was guided by a report on how small businesses with high school connections tend to thrive by Vojislav “Max” Maksimovic and Liu Yang from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. What these reporters found was a bit unexpected: a deeper understanding of how small businesses contribute to the social fabric of Baltimore. CNS partnered with the Baltimore Banner on this project; many thanks to data editor Ryan Little for his guidance.
You must be logged in to post a comment.