Thomasville community supports Black Business Expo
Businesses from across North and South Carolina will fill Thomasville’s Farmers Market and Pace Park Amphitheater on Saturday, June 18 for the second Black Business Expo. The event will include food trucks, a live DJ, a mobile arcade, kids’ activities and lots of fun for all who attend. Admission is free and open from 3 to 7 p.m.
City Councilwoman Wendy Sellars said that the community has shown an outpour of support. “I first heard about the Thomasville Black Business Expo in 2021 and I was just blown away that Thomasville had an event that would place a spotlight on our minority businesses. Although I believe that all of our businesses are important, the fact that we had an event to show our minority business owners that we support them and that we want to see them be successful I thought was amazing,” she offered.
Founder Jauraz Crosby said this will be a great opportunity to network with local businesses and the community. “God just tapped me on the should to do this. Basically, it’s a calling from God.” Crosby anticipates selecting 40 vendors after last year’s success. “Last year was the first of its kind in the city. People weren’t expecting it to be of that magnitude,” Crosby shared. “I recently moved back to North Carolina from Philadelphia. I just wanted people to know great things, great people come from the city of Thomasville.”
Vendors have until May 1 to register using this form, https://form.123formbuilder.com/.../2nd-annual.
The group will give a $1000 prize and plaque for the most creative vendor display. The group is seeking a “sense of creativity and authenticity to bring to their table,” according to Crosby.
For 2022, sponsors include Thomasville Medical Center, Thomasville Tourism, Comfort Inn, Gray Sway Incorporated, Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, Thomasville Chamber of Commerce and Thomasville City Schools.
Sellars said, “I called Juaraz and said I want to help you with the BBE. I wanted to help this event be as successful as possible. I was so impressed with Mr. Crosby’s event planning skills and the fact that he cares so much about this community that he would come back to host this event. He could have gone anywhere else but he chose Thomasville. I am exploring the community to come out and support this event. Come and see what the minority businesses owners have to offer. Let’s support our small business owners.”
The expo is open to additional sponsors.
