A center that serves small businesses throughout Western New York has one goal in mind: growing minority and women-owned businesses.

After only one year in operation, the Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center has worked with more than 200 businesses.

One of those businesses is Trace Assets Protection Service, owned by Anita Sanders.

As a lieutenant in law enforcement and small business owner, she merged both of her worlds.

"We are a security guard firm. We provide armed and unarmed security for various areas throughout Western New York,” said Sanders. “I call it security concierge service."

Sanders’ business started in March 2012.

She began with a small staff to now, where she employees more than 100 people.

She says they are growing rapidly, having contracted with the government, Canalside, and many others.

A study by Guidant Financial found from 2012 to 2017, minority-owned businesses grew by 79 percent, with women growing as the largest group of entrepreneurs at that time.

Beverly Gray is hoping to grow that footprint in Buffalo.

"You can see a lot of historic pictures of the East Side of Buffalo and those commercial corridors where there was that family-owned, minority-owned butcher shop or barber shop or record store and we are working diligently to rebuild that,” said Royce Woods, executive director for Beverly Gray.

But minority and women-owned businesses still face challenges.

"They lag behind national averages in regards of access to credit and access to financing,” said Woods.

That's one of the things Beverly Gray can help business owners with, such as finding loans and other resources they need to succeed.

"There are a lot of small businesses in this area and a lot of the things I hear them saying are finances, work force, and finding a place where they can learn more about their business and grow their business,” said Sanders. “Beverly Gray is a God-send. It's needed at this time. If we get the people to have small businesses, especially the minority-owned, we can employ the people in the neighborhood that are unemployed."

"That base is really what's needed for total community revitalization,” said Woods. “It fights off a lot of gentrification concerns. When local community members, specifically minorities and women, start small businesses in the community, the economic development is really impressive."

Woods says the community can support small businesses. Not just through buying local, but something else.

“Brag local as well,” said Woods. “Go onto your social media platforms, promote the business, and promote the service you just received, especially if it's from a minority or woman-owned business. Refer it."

Any business interested in working with Beverly Gray can learn more online.