State's Black-owned Businesses Increase

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A recent U.S. Census Bureau report shows the number of black-owned businesses in Oklahoma is rapidly increasing. <br/><br/>The number swelled by more than 40 percent from 1997 to 2002.

Saturday, May 6th 2006, 5:49 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A recent U.S. Census Bureau report shows the number of black-owned businesses in Oklahoma is rapidly increasing.

The number swelled by more than 40 percent from 1997 to 2002. Nationwide, black-owned businesses grew by 45 percent over the five-year period, more than four times the national rate for all businesses.

However, the report shows 92 percent of black-owned businesses have no employees other than the owners.

Black-owned businesses increased the most in Oklahoma City from 1997 to 2002, jumping from 1900 to more than 2400.

The census shows there are now more than 7400 black owned firms in the state.