Black Chamber of Arizona hosts Black business summit Aug. 7 in Chandler

The Black Chamber of Arizona is bringing back its National Black Business Month Summit on Aug. 7 at Chandler’s Avion Center, with the City of Chandler as presenting sponsor and support from APS, SRP and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The free event is designed to expand business connections, surface entrepreneurship data and help small and minority-owned firms win more opportunities across Arizona.

Why it matters: - The summit is designed to connect Black entrepreneurs and small business owners with corporate leaders, city officials and community partners across Arizona. - Organizers say the event aims to accelerate business growth, close opportunity gaps and create economic connections that can lead to contracts, capital access and long-term support. - The 2026 program also launches a new statewide community survey that will shape future programming and advocacy for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

What happened: - The Black Chamber of Arizona will host the 2nd Annual National Black Business Month Summit: Empowering Excellence on Friday, Aug. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Avion Center in Chandler. - The summit is free and open to the public, and attendees can register through online registration. - The City of Chandler is the presenting sponsor, with support from APS, SRP and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. - The event is expected to bring together more than 200 entrepreneurs, small business owners, corporate leaders, city officials and community builders from across Arizona.

The details: - Chandler funded its sponsorship from the General Fund budget after the first summit drew a positive response last year. - The summit includes City Council remarks from Mayor Kevin Hartke and Vice Mayor Angel Encinas, with Councilmember OD Harris delivering closing remarks. - A City + Business Leaders Panel will feature Chandler Councilmember Christine Ellis and corporate leaders focused on economic growth, procurement opportunities and the future of Arizona’s business community. - Dr. Velma Trayham will deliver an Economic Progress Report keynote on entrepreneurship and economic development in Arizona. - The summit will debut Elevate: Young Voices, Big Vision, a Youth Entrepreneur & Leadership Panel presented by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and moderated by Zel Fowler, CEO of the Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators. - The youth panel will feature six young leaders, including youth entrepreneurs. - Interactive workshops will cover professional development, capital access, procurement readiness and business scaling. - The Vendor Marketplace will showcase 30+ small and minority-owned businesses to attendees, corporate partners and city officials. - The summit also includes a catered networking lunch. - Congressman Greg Stanton will share a personal message to Arizona entrepreneurs. - BCAZ will formally launch its 2026 Community Survey at the summit, building on its 2025 statewide survey. - The survey is intended to gather data on the needs, challenges and growth opportunities facing small and underrepresented entrepreneurs across Arizona. - The Black Chamber of Arizona was founded in 1995 and describes itself as Arizona’s statewide organization focused on entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and business development. - Through its Contracting Accelerator program, BCAZ says entrepreneurs in its network have won more than $11 million in contracting opportunities. - BCAZ says it has partnerships with more than 52 corporations and government agencies statewide. - BCAZ also runs year-round programs including the Impact AZ Business Accelerator, the Elevate Youth Career & Entrepreneurship program and the National Black Business Month Summit. - High-resolution photos from the 2025 summit are available here.

Between the lines: - The return of a presenting sponsor and the expanded 2026 agenda suggest the first summit built enough momentum to draw broader institutional support. - Adding a youth-focused panel and a new survey points to a strategy that combines business programming with data collection and pipeline development. - The emphasis on procurement, capital access and scaling shows the summit is built around practical outcomes, not just networking.

What's next: - Attendees will gather Aug. 7 in Chandler for the full day of programming. - BCAZ will use the new community survey to inform future advocacy and event planning. - The organization is likely to continue using the summit as part of its year-round entrepreneurship and contracting pipeline.