Keeping BIPOC- and Immigrant-Owned Businesses in Place: Policies to Combat Commercial Gentrification and Small Business Displacement

Abstract

Small businesses are integral to neighborhoods’ economic and cultural health, yet vulnerable to gentrification and displacement pressures. This issue is particularly concerning for immigrant- and BIPOC-owned businesses. However, there is limited scholarship on anti-displacement strategies that can preserve businesses of color. Our review finds that community-led and municipality efforts are increasingly addressing these gaps by focusing on access to capital, reforming exclusionary planning policies, and promoting community-wealth building and ownership, especially since the pandemic. The findings highlight the need for further research into these promising policies to better understand and mitigate the impact of gentrification on small businesses.