VALDOSTA — The Southern Georgia Black Chambers (SGBC), the leading regional business advocacy group for Black-owned enterprises across an 18-county area in South Georgia, has officially joined the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) as an active member organization. This landmark affiliation, published Tuesday, September 15, 2026, is set to directly connect South Georgia's homegrown entrepreneurs, agricultural operators, licensed trade contractors, and professional service providers with federal policy discussions, national corporate supplier diversity programs, and crucial capital access initiatives on Capitol Hill.
H. DeWayne Johnson, president, CEO, and board chairman of the Southern Georgia Black Chambers, described the induction as an "extraordinary turning point." Johnson noted that for too long, rural and regional Black-owned businesses south of the Macon line have operated in geographic silos, often overlooked by major institutional resources. He stated that joining the USBC family ensures that the 18-county business ecosystem has an active, permanent seat at the national economic table, directly linking what is built in Valdosta, Nashville, Tifton, and across South Georgia to the broader national Black economy.
The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., serves as the "National Voice of Black Business." It represents an affiliated network of more than 160 Black chambers of commerce and over 380,000 Black-owned businesses nationwide under the leadership of President and CEO Ron Busby Sr.
Through this national affiliation, active SGBC members will immediately gain expanded opportunities across several key areas. For federal procurement and prime contracting, members will have direct access to USBC’s national contracting clearinghouses, federal defense procurement summits, and mentor-protégé programs. These connections can link local firms to opportunities at Moody Air Force Base, Robins Air Force Base, and nationwide federal infrastructure projects.
Members will also see enhanced national capital readiness and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) access. This includes inclusion in USBC capital initiatives with institutional partners, Black-owned banking networks, and national micro-lenders. Additionally, the affiliation provides national certification fast-tracking, streamlining navigation for ByBlack certification—the first national certification exclusively for Black-owned businesses recognized by the federal government and Fortune 500 supplier diversity departments.
Crucially, the partnership ensures federal policy representation. There will be direct policy alignment with the national “Blackprint,” which guarantees that South Georgia issues—such as Black land retention, commercial property acquisition, rural broadband equity, and childcare workforce stabilization—are presented directly before congressional committees and federal agencies. In an official acceptance statement on behalf of USBC President Ron Busby, Sr., the USBC Chamber and Business Engagement team confirmed that SGBC’s commitment aligns perfectly with their mission to foster growth and success for Black businesses nationwide, promising access to a wealth of resources, networking opportunities, and support systems.