From Our President & CEO

Welcome to the African American Chamber
of Commerce of Wisconsin!

The Chamber serves as a central part of the small business ecosystem in Milwaukee and throughout the state of Wisconsin, and we pride ourselves on providing top tier service and assistance to our members through connections and partnerships.

Each day we work towards fulfilling our mission for nearly 400 business members, and our mission is simple- “We champion the growth and sustainability of African American owned businesses by providing access to capital, education and advocacy through capacity building and strategic partnerships.” Our vision states that, “Economic vibrancy permeates African American families and communities because of strong businesses, an educated workforce, and limitless opportunities in entrepreneurship or the workplace,” and under the leadership of our Board of Directors, integrity, accountability and purpose remain central to our work.

Our mission and vision come to fruition through our hands-on technical assistance and small business programming; RISE, RISE-HSED, SPUR, the Revolving Loan Fund, and our strategic partnerships with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Milwaukee, The Greater Milwaukee  Urban League, Literacy Services of Wisconsin, and Scale Up Milwaukee.

The Chamber is ever evolving, and we are grateful for our corporate and philanthropic partners that help support our growth. Their investments in our vision helped establish The Chris Abele Legacy Co-working and Innovation Space, a collaboration and incubation hub for our members and Chamber headquarters, and we look forward to opening the doors soon! As we continue to help businesses navigate and pivot towards a prosperous and sustainable future, I am committed to engaging in meaningful mission-aligned work and elevating the voices, efforts, and impact of Black businesses in this community and beyond.

On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, I thank you for investing in our efforts to champion growth!

In service,

Nikki Purvis
President & CEO

Testimonial

“Being a member of the chamber is a valuable learning experience. Not only are we supported with business connections, we are also supported with tools such as financial Literacy, wealth building, business planning essentials and access to other positive structural organizations. The membership has allowed BID 39 to sit at tables we could not have entered alone. The chamber is resourceful as well as dedicated to the survival of small and large businesses. We value our membership and encourage others to explore the dynamic resources available.

Jennifer Potts BID #39 Director (AACCW Member)