BHM 2024

Dallas is the 6th best U.S. city for Black professionals, report finds

Dallas ranks No. 3 in Texas and No. 6 nationwide.

In acknowledgement of Black History Month 2024, a new report compiled by Black employees at online rental marketplace Apartment List has ranked Dallas the No. 6 best U.S. city for Black professionals.

Apartment List reviewed 76 cities across four major categories to determine the rankings: community and representation; economic opportunity; housing opportunity; and business environment.

Dallas earned a score of 59.1 out of a total 100 points, making it the third-highest-ranked city in Texas for Black professionals, behind San Antonio (No. 3) and Houston (No. 4).

The city earned top-10 rankings in three out of the four main categories:

No. 5 – Community and representation
No. 7 – Economic opportunity
No. 7 – Business environment
No. 39 – Housing opportunity

Dallas is commended for its strong Black community, business environment and economy, but there is some room for improvement when it comes to housing.

Visiting eateries like Brunchaholics and Absolutely Edible Cakes – spots where viral food critic Keith Lee visited earlier in February – is just one example of how Dallas residents can show their support of locally-owned Black businesses.

Elsewhere in Texas

Texas cities dominated the overall top 10. San Antonio ranked just above Houston, with Austin (No. 7) not too far behind Dallas.

San Antonio came in less than 6.5 points ahead of Dallas with a total score of 65.44 points. The report praised San Antonio's scores across its economic opportunity (No. 2), housing opportunity (No. 7), and community and representation (No. 10). The city ranked No. 20 for its Black business environment.

But like Dallas, San Antonio also fell behind in its Black homeownership rates, according to the study.

"While the Black homeownership rate is higher than average at 44 percent, the homeownership gap (Black homeownership rate - non-Black homeownership rate) quite low at -19 percent," the report's author wrote. "Perhaps this could be explained by San Antonio’s overall homeownership rate, which is also lower than the state’s average. Additionally, the lower homeownership gap could explain the cost burden rate also being lower than average at 41 percent."

The top 10 cities for Black professionals are:

No. 1 – Washington, D.C.
No. 2 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 3 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 4 – Houston, Texas
No. 5 – Palm Bay, Florida
No. 6 – Dallas, Texas
No. 7 – Austin, Texas
No. 8 – Colorado Springs, Colorado
No. 9 – Lakeland, Florida
No. 10 – Charlotte, North Carolina

The full report and its methodology can be found on apartmentlist.com.

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Women Rule

Carrollton CEO makes list of fastest growing women businesses in U.S.

Buzzballs

Buzzballs' Merrilee Kick

A CEO based in Carrollton was recently named one of the fastest-growing women-led businesses in the United States: Merrilee Kick, founder of spherical cocktail brand BuzzBallz, made the top five on nonprofit Women President Organization's 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list.

BuzzBallz, which is in the fourth spot on the list, was founded by Kick in 2009 and acquired by spirits company Sazerac in 2024. Following a career as a high school teacher, Kick decided to create ready-to-drink cocktails, such as martinis and margaritas, served in a plastic can rather than a glass.

To be considered for this list, businesses must operate under the leadership of a woman, and have a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue for each of the previous five years. Plus, they must have sustained substantial year-over-year growth, demonstrating post-pandemic recovery in industries like travel and hospitality, health and wellness, manufacturing, and food and beverage.

The top five include:

Collette led by President and CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Unite Digital led by President and CEO Stacey Coopes, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Embark Beyond led by Co-founder and Managing Partner Julie Danziger, based in New York City, New York
BuzzBallz (Southern Champion) led by CEO and Founder Merrilee Kick, based in Carrollton, Texas
Cymbiotika led by CEO Durana Elmi, based in San Diego, California

Kick joins two other Texas business owners on the list — both in Houston — including Pamela Chambers O'Rourke, founder and CEO of Icon Information Consultants, and Tara Harmon-Kramer, owner of Meltar Supply, at sixth and 23rd place on the list respectively.

According to a release, businesses on this year’s list collectively generated more than $7 billion in gross revenue, and employed more than 15,000 people, in 2024.

Most of the selected companies offer remote work arrangements and parental leave, and company milestones included major contracts secured and national retailer launches.

“With a strong commitment to innovation, purpose, and people, these companies exemplify the essential role women-owned and led businesses play in building a more sustainable and inclusive economy," says CEO of the Women Presidents Organization Camille Burns in a statement. "This recognition is more than a milestone — it’s a powerful affirmation of the transformative influence women have in shaping modern business."

The 50 Fastest list is sponsored by J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking, and participation was open to all qualifying businesses.

A comprehensive evaluation process then ranked all eligible companies using a proprietary sales growth formula that factored in both percentage and absolute growth, finalizing the WPO’s selection of the top 50 performers for recognition.

Honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum at The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio on May 8.

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