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Cook County Tops Nation For Black-Owned Businesses

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The numbers of black-owned businesses are up across America, but the greatest numbers are in the Chicago area in general, and Cook County in particular.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Felicia Middlebrooks reports, the new Census data were collected in 2007. When it comes to black-owned businesses across America, Cook County boasts the greatest numbers – more than any other county in the U.S.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Felicia Middlebrooks reports

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Black-owned businesses in Cook County total nearly 84,000, of which 59,000 are in Chicago. But the majority of the businesses had no employees; just the owner.

Why the boom? Black unemployment is at an alarming 15.7 percent. Analysts say entrepreneurship is a way of surviving the recession.

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