About.

With roots beginning in 1981.
The West Side Business Coalition (WSBC) officially began meeting in 2024, but West Side business owners have been organizing together for decades.

In 1981, business leaders formed the West Side Development Corporation (WSDC). At the time, the neighborhood was home to approximately 100 small businesses, and 60 joined the effort. WSDC focused on helping businesses access affordable loans, coordinating joint promotions, and strengthening safety and security programs. By 1987, WSDC had dissolved — but the spirit of collaboration never disappeared.
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Over the years, various business cohorts and campaigns have formed, flourished, and wound down as community needs evolved. 
In 2024, the West Side Community Organization (WSCO) launched the West Side Businesses Unite! campaign.  The campaign has transitioned into what is now the West Side Business Coalition — an informal cohort of business owners and entrepreneurs who gather quarterly.
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WSBC does not currently have a board or formal staff. It is a collaborative, grassroots network of West Side businesspeople committed to strengthening local economic vitality and neighborhood well-being.

Our Vision.
The West Side Business Coalition envisions a thriving, connected, and locally rooted business community where:
  • West Side dollars circulate within the neighborhood
  • Business owners collaborate rather than compete
  • Entrepreneurs of all backgrounds have access to resources and opportunity
  • ​Local businesses help shape the future of the West Side
As the coalition grows, there is hope that WSBC may one day become an independent entity — one that champions green initiatives, youth mentorship, entrepreneurial development, and long-term economic sustainability on the West Side.

At its core, WSBC exists to strengthen relationships between business owners so we can better serve our neighbors — and each other.

The Team.

Mandy Otis 
West Side Business Owner, Fox Face Studios

Mandy currently serves as the de facto chairperson of the West Side Business Coalition. She manages the e-newsletter, sets meeting agendas, conducts outreach, and supports meeting facilitation. Her leadership helps ensure the coalition remains business-owner-driven and community-centered.​

West Side Community Organization
​Coalition Incubator & Partner

WSCO supports the coalition by coordinating meeting presentations as needed, developing promotional content for local businesses, conducting outreach and community engagement, and providing organizational infrastructure. While WSCO helps incubate and sustain WSBC, the coalition’s long-term goal is to remain led and shaped by West Side business owners themselves.​