The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Black Business Awards nominations are officially open.
The annual awards are centered on celebrating Black-owned businesses in Madison. This year’s theme is “Building Dreams: Honoring the Visionaries Who Build Foundations for Generations to Come.” The Black Chamber looks to highlight businesses that shape communities and create long-lasting legacies with 17 different categories.
“I’m really wanting to focus on visionary dream builders, people that help us to accomplish our dreams as a community, as individuals, as business owners,” said Camille Carter, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce. “We’re really focusing and highlighting specific niche targets of business owners this year focusing on construction and home improvement and architectural design and intellectual design and all types of concepts in that way.”
Carter wanted to capitalize on infrastructure development in Wisconsin and the progressive growth in opportunities Black business owners typically do not get a chance to. Categories of businesses for nomination range from residential design to home services, commercial design, general contracting, real estate, project and site management, neighborhood investment, engineering, architecture, the trades and many more.
The focus on businesses this year is drastically different from last. The previous year, which ensued with the Black Chamber’s gala, was centered on health and beauty. Businesses highlighted this year are “not often seen,” Carter describes it.
“We see ourselves as a convener of people,” Carter said. “These businesses are not — they’re not out… because they’re building their businesses. They’re out there trying to hunt for bids and putting in RFPs [requests for proposals] and searching for opportunities, so we want to search for them.”
Nominations are currently open until Jan. 10 at 11:59 p.m. Nominations can be made per category where it will ask the name of the individual nominated, business name, city and why you are nominating them.
Award winners will be announced at the 7th Annual Black Business Awards and Recognition Exhibition on Feb. 20.
