Black Chamber of Arizona secured $5 million for small businesses, impact report shows
Story Highlights
- Black Chamber of Arizona secured $5 million for entrepreneurs and businesses
- Chamber’s Impact AZ program helps close racial wealth gap
- Velma Trayham grew paid membership by 80% as CEO
The Black Chamber of Arizona has helped secure more than $5 million for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
The nonprofit has also had a $1.5 million aggregate increase in member sales; more than 1,200 businesses launched or scaled; over 500 jobs created; and 15,000-plus hours of mentorship and technical assistance delivered. The organization also reported $682,418 in revenue, $550,950 in expenses and $130,069 in net income.
That’s according to the Black Chamber of Arizona 2024-2025 Impact Report that was recently released. It is the first impact report the chamber has released since its founding over 30 years ago.
Velma Trayham, the organization’s president and CEO, who succeeded Robin Reed, said Reed had advanced the organization and laid a strong foundation. Under her leadership she wanted to take it to the next level, which meant “taking a deep dive,” into past data and hearing from the membership community, she said.
“I am a firm believer that when you know the problems that exist, you can then create solutions,” said Trayham.
In addition to serving as the Black Chamber’s president and CEO, Trayham is also the founder of modular home company HomeAccess America. She was a Phoenix Business Journal 2024 Outstanding Woman In Business honoree.
Surveys were sent out to over 1,000 paid members and 8,000 subscribers. Trayham said that 450 surveys were completed, which helped her understand what needed to be done to innovate the chamber and move it forward.
A change she implemented was to offer paid and in-kind memberships to help support the organization’s programs. Trayham has also helped grow the paid membership by 80%.
One of the organization’s newer members is Michael Battle, the founder of Battle Protection Agency, a security company that has worked with high-profile clients such as Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Sanders, as well as rallies for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Elizabeth Warren. He has also worked with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Matt Ishbia and players including Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.
In 2024, the company had revenue over $700,000 and has already done roughly $1 million this year. Battle employs over 40 people and has begun expanding nationally in Colorado, New Mexico and California.