By David Maynard, Chairman of the Association of Black Business & Professionals

The annual promotion “Dine Black” returns in August. The promotion is designed to bring exposure to local black owned restaurants and food providers. The promotion works by offering a $100.00 Visa Gift card to the first ten people who visit five participating restaurants during the month of August, Black Business Month.
The program was started in 2020 by a collaboration of City Councilor Tracye Whitfield and the Association of Black Business & Professionals. Last year, Dine Black added Pioneer Valley Project as one of the organizers of the promotion. This year the three organizations are back with a few changes.
This year all restaurants can participate for free. The goal, according to the team, is to have all black restaurants in Springfield participate this year, making the promotion bigger than any year before. The theme for the year is “There’s So Much To Us,” touching upon the variety of foods that black restaurants offer.
“We are expanding the scope of what people think when they hear “Black Owned Restaurant.” It’s soul food from Khi & Eli’s Food for the Soul, it’s Jamaican food from Hazel’s Kitchen, it’s wings from Wingz Madness, it’s beer from White Lion Brewery, it’s cookies from The Picky Diva’s Sweets and Eats, it’s Cajun from Chef Wayne’s Cajun On The Go, it’s waffles from Wingz & Waffles, it’s catering, it’s delivery to your door, it’s literally everything you can imagine,” said ABBP Chairman David Maynard.
For more information on Dine Black, a list all participating restaurants, to become a sponsor and/or for additional terms and conditions that apply visit www.abbpofma.org. ■