On August 2, 2000, a number of African American business and property owners from the Detroit metropolitan area began meeting at New Detroit to discuss strategies supportive of their interests.

This discussion group considered a number of ideas and concluded that the creation of a Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce, in association with the National Black Chamber of Commerce, would be a critical first step. New Detroit has agreed, as a part of its economic equity focus, to provide incubator space and administrative support while the new organization conducted its initial membership drive.

The Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation on December 18, 2000, to establish African American businesses as a viable part of the economic mainstream.

DBCC will support and cooperate with all other African American trade, business, and social institutions, as well as others who promote the inclusion of African Americans in the economic life of the area.

Political advocacy will be carried out through the formation of a separate Political Action Committee (PAC). The new chamber is non-partisan.