February marks a pivotal moment in Black history, and one town in Maryland is celebrating with a record number of Black-owned businesses.

Princess Anne, located in Somerset County, MD, and serving as its county seat, now boasts at least 25 Black-owned businesses in its town of fewer than 4,000 residents, according to WBOC-TV.

“When I first moved to this area, I was told that the last known lynching was in Princess Anne, Maryland,” said business owner Leslie Coker, reflecting on the past. “That there is now 25 Black-owned businesses in a county that has less than 4,000 people, that’s phenomenal.”

Coker runs the Dynamic Divas majorette dance company, one of the Black-owned businesses contributing to Princess Anne’s record-breaking milestone.

Alongside Croker, business owner Dale Parker runs the Cropa Station restaurant with his partner, while Danae Ballard launched her salon, Alluring Looks by Danae, at just 21 years old. They all take pride in being part of a community representing the possibility of success.

“When you start at a younger age, it gives you a different aspect of it,” Ballard said, WBOC reported, “and you can always learn from others in the community.”

Princess Anne Chamber of Commerce President Lynnell Fletcher-Pugh said the town welcomes anyone with a business idea to pursue, emphasizing that they want all businesses to succeed regardless of whether the owners are Black or white. However, Black History Month, in particular, serves as a reminder to acknowledge and celebrate the progress happening within the Black-owned business community in Princess Anne.

“History has shown that there weren’t really any Black-owned businesses in Princess Anne…” Fletcher-Pugh said. “But we overcame a lot. Times change. People change.”

The Chamber is developing a business directory and planning networking events to connect all business owners in Princess Anne and foster ongoing economic development, per WBOC.

Princess Anne isn’t the only town where Black business is booming. 700 miles away, in Fayetteville, GA, shoppers can support various businesses at the city’s first Black-owned shopping plaza.

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Kingdom Corners, the brainchild of entrepreneurial husband-and-wife duo Felicia and Winchel Elibert, took three to four years to complete.

The four-acre shopping plaza opened to the public in November 2024 and features several businesses, including Frida’s Bar and Grill, Southern Fire Kitchen, Salada, Tanzar Nail Bar, Dough Boy Pizza, Smoothie King, and Cleansing Waters Wellness.

Despite facing bank rejections and obstacles—including financial setbacks and shifting dynamics with developers and contractors—as of February 2025, the plaza has been fully leased out, AFROTECH™ noted. The Eliberts are now hoping to inspire the community.

“We have been getting phone calls, texts, and folks stopping by just to say what an inspiration we are in the community. Now, it is really hitting us. Making history and what that means. Not just to us, but what it means to our community,” Felicia told WSB-TV Atlanta News, AFROTECH™ reported.