ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Leta Brayboy not only talks the talk, shewalks the walk. As president of Progressive Neighborhood FederalCredit Union, which considers small business development as one ofits tenets, Brayboy is in a keen position because she also isfounder and owner of her 12-year old company, EnvironmentalServices, LLC. The company provides commercial and constructioncleaning services and employs 25 to 40 people, depending on theseason. Brayboy was one of several African-Americans interviewed bythe Rochester Democrat & Chronicle on the growing number ofminority-owned businesses in the area. The $2.7 million creditunion is currently in discussions with the city of Rochester toprovide capital to potential business owners. According to new datafrom the U.S. Census Bureau, African-American-owned businesses grewby more than 54% in the Rochester area including five surroundingareas. That percentage exceeds the state and nation's numbers at49% and 45%, respectively. The census report also shows thatroughly two-thirds of African-American owned businesses in theseven-county region are in Rochester. Many in the communityattribute much of the growth to downsizing at some of the area'slarger companies resulting in former employees starting their ownbusinesses, the publication reported. Brayboy said some of the keysfor small and minority-owned companies are to form partnerships tocompete with larger companies and “be more creative.” ProgressiveFCU celebrated its 10-year anniversary last year. It serves morethan 2,700 members.