Atlanta takes 15 spots in list of largest black businesses

Dave Moody represented construction firm Moody Construction Co. during the forum sponsored by the Council for Quality Growth. The Falcons say groundbreaking on the new facility could start by April and will be complete by the 2017 season.

Credit: Phil Skinner

Credit: Phil Skinner

Dave Moody represented construction firm Moody Construction Co. during the forum sponsored by the Council for Quality Growth. The Falcons say groundbreaking on the new facility could start by April and will be complete by the 2017 season.

Fifteen metro Atlanta businesses are in the 2016 Black Enterprise 100s, the most recently available -- an annual compilation of the largest black-owned or majority black-owned companies by annual revenue or assets. Legacy Automotive Group, which has dealerships in Columbus and metro Atlanta, had 2015 revenues of $102 million and is 25th on the list of the 50 largest auto dealerships.

The ranked businesses are in four categories: industrial/service (including construction and manufacturing companies, media companies, IT services and others), which included ten of the 15; as well as auto dealerships, advertising and financial services.

The largest business by revenues was Wade Ford Inc., an auto dealer in Smyrna, with total revenues of $554 million. (BE said its data is accurate as of Dec. 31, 2015.) The largest financial firm was Atlanta's Citizens Trust Bank, operated by the Citizens Bancshares Corporation, with $389 million in assets.

The 15 businesses are:

  • Wade Ford Inc.
  • H. J. Russell & Co.
  • The Baran Co. L.L.C. (Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead)
  • Citizens Bancshares Corp. (Citizens Trust Bank)
  • The Gourmet Cos.
  • Jackmont Hospitality Inc.
  • Legacy Automotive Group
  • Benton-Georgia L.L.C.
  • Jackson Acura
  • C. D. Moody Construction Co. Inc.
  • Engineering Design Technologies Inc.
  • TME Enterprises 1 LTD
  • B & S Electric Supply Co. Inc.
  • CarterBrothers Company
  • ALL (N) 1 Security Services

See the complete BE 100s -- including additional distinctions such as growth and employment leaders, here.