"Helping One Business at a Time"
Who We Are
Cleveland County Black Business Connect LLC is a community-driven organization rooted in Shelby, North Carolina. Our mission is simple and powerful — to uplift, connect, and strengthen Black-owned businesses in Cleveland County, one business at a time.
We believe that when Black businesses thrive, the entire community thrives. Through events, networking, mentorship, and collaboration, we are building a stronger economic foundation for our community.
Whether you're an established business owner or just starting out, CCBBC is your home for connection, growth, and opportunity.
Our Origin Story
On March 16, 2019, President Dean Dabbs had a vision — to create a space where Black entrepreneurs in Cleveland County could come together, showcase their businesses, and support one another. That vision became reality when Dean partnered with Travis Woods, and together they gave the group its name: Cleveland County Black Business Connect.
What started as a community vision has grown into a movement. In 2025, the organization took its next major step by officially becoming Cleveland County Black Business Connect LLC — a testament to the dedication of its founders and the strength of the community it serves. The mission has never changed: one business at a time.
"The vision was simple — give Black entrepreneurs a place to be seen, to connect, and to grow. Everything we do comes back to that."
— Dean Dabbs, Founder & President
Mark Your Calendar
"Your Next Customers Will Be Here." — Real Opportunities. Real Connections. Real Growth.
Get in front of hundreds of potential customers, increase your sales, build lasting connections, and grow your business. Open to all businesses, all cultures, all backgrounds — everyone is welcome!
A hands-on workshop covering Business Start-Up Essentials, Business Credit Foundations, ChatGPT Business Tools, and CEO Activation. Attendees left with a logo, one-page business plan, flyer design, and more. Facilitated by Coach Ash Linder at Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library, Shelby NC.
Stay Informed
July 25 · 11AM–3PM · 107 Paul Ramseur Ct, Kingstown, NC. Vendor fee is $50. Pay via Cash App $26CCBBC, Zelle, or in person at GiGi's Cafe or Not Just Wireless. Contact Mariah Woods on Facebook for info.
CCBBC is growing! We're welcoming Black-owned businesses of all sizes and industries in Cleveland County. Connect with us to become part of our growing community.
We have a private Facebook group for members. To join, you must have an active business. Search "Cleveland County Black Business Connect" on Facebook and request to join.
We have an exciting resource coming soon — a workbook and planner designed to help vendors stay organized and keep up with everything they need for events. Stay tuned!
The Team
President
Vice President & Treasurer
Secretary
Event Coordinator
Social Media
Our Community in Action
These are some of the amazing businesses that participated in last year's Cleveland County Business Expo. This is what CCBBC is all about — real businesses, real community, real growth.
Past Events
October 11, 2025 · Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library, Shelby NC · Facilitated by Coach Ash Linder
"It Started Here... Now We're Going Bigger"
Cleveland County Black Business Connect · Where We Connect Business to the Community
We are working on something special for every vendor and business owner in our community. The CCBBC Vendor Workbook & Planner is designed to help you stay organized, track your event performance, manage your inventory, and keep up with everything you need to run a successful booth — all in one place.
"Stop losing track of your numbers. Start running your business like a pro."
Be the First to Know
Join our email list to get notified when the Workbook & Planner drops, plus updates on events, announcements, and exclusive CCBBC news.
Thank you for signing up. We'll reach out to as soon as the Workbook & Planner is ready.
We respect your privacy. No spam — only CCBBC updates that matter to you.
Get In Touch
Have a question, want to join our network, or interested in participating in the Business Expo? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out and let's grow together.
Legal
Last updated: June 2026
Cleveland County Black Business Connect LLC ("CCBBC", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at www.clevelandcountyblackbusinessconnectllc.org.
We may collect the following information when you voluntarily submit it through our website:
We use the information we collect to:
We will never sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes. Your information is used solely for CCBBC communications.
By submitting your email address on our website, you agree to receive emails from CCBBC. You may unsubscribe at any time by replying to any email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or by contacting us directly at CCBBCLLC@gmail.com.
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Cleveland County Black Business Connect LLC
Shelby, North Carolina
CCBBCLLC@gmail.com
980-295-0592
