A New Chapter for Black Entrepreneurs in Merced
A powerful new space has opened for Black business owners in Merced. Greater Merced Black Chamber of Commerce has officially launched, marking the city’s first organization dedicated to supporting Black entrepreneurs and vendors.
The chamber’s officers were installed during the 78th annual Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner. Led by President Linda Griffin, the new chamber will serve as a hub for networking, resources, and business growth. It also aims to provide training and scholarships for emerging entrepreneurs.
“This is what I have to give to my community,” Griffin said. “If we put all our voices together, we’d do so much.”
Honoring a Lost Black Business Legacy
The chamber’s roots are tied to a history many in Merced remember well. Griffin grew up surrounded by thriving Black-owned businesses along 13th and 14th Streets. Those shops were once the heartbeat of the local Black community.
“There were beauty shops,” Griffin recalled. “There was probably a couple of nightclubs down there. It was where Black people went.”
But when the freeway came through, that vibrant business district disappeared. Many shop owners couldn’t afford to relocate. Griffin says reclaiming that legacy is a major motivation behind the new chamber. Joyce Dale, Merced’s Poet Laureate and the chamber’s vice president, shares this vision. “We want children to have the same good memories that we had,” she said.
A Vision Fueled by Experience
Griffin’s leadership is shaped by decades of lived experience. After leaving Merced at 22, she spent years in the Bay Area and New Orleans. When she returned home, she began organizing craft fairs that gave artists and vendors a platform to sell their work.
Through that work, she noticed a growing number of Black vendors, mostly young women, who lacked business support. Many operated without storefronts or directories to help customers find them. “I really want to help them,” Griffin said. “Some of those girls are trying to get off welfare. They just want to provide for their families.”
The chamber will address these gaps through workshops, shared spaces, and business training opportunities. It’s designed to help Black entrepreneurs build sustainable futures in their own community.
Community Partnerships Strengthening the Foundation
The success of the new chamber is built on partnerships. Anissa Fragoso, president of the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, played a key role in helping Griffin and Dale get the organization off the ground. She shared bylaws, connected them with legal support, and provided guidance throughout the process.
“I wanted to make sure the Black Chamber got the same exposure,” Fragoso said. “The community’s going to be there to support all of us.”
This collaboration reflects a broader vision of shared growth. Fragoso emphasized that multiple culturally specific chambers aren’t about competition. They’re about meeting the unique needs of each community while lifting up the local business ecosystem as a whole.
Investing in the Next Generation of Black Business Leaders
For Griffin, this launch is only the beginning. Though she can no longer work a traditional 9-to-5, she’s dedicated her time and energy to laying the groundwork for future leaders. She envisions a thriving network of Black-owned businesses across Merced in the coming decade.
“I believe there’s a tremendous amount of talent in the Black community,” she said. “We need to put ourselves in a position to hire each other if it comes to that.”
She plans to offer scholarships, training, and mentorship to help young entrepreneurs sharpen their skills and grow their businesses. “If I could just get it started, get it off the ground,” she said. “In five years or so, then bring in some of these young people to take over.”
Membership in the chamber is open to everyone, regardless of race or background. The focus is unity, collaboration, and shared success.
