The challenge of change along with the pace and complexity of change and global competition facing black businesses today puts a premium on cities that can deliver distinct advantages for companies, talent and investment.
The need for the black community to compete at this level is unprecedented. It is imperative that we capitalize on our city’s assets and create a scaled campaign equal to the challenge.
Now is the time to think and act as a state.
We have developed an aggressive campaign to secure our business future now. Outlined in this and other document are the focused strategies aimed at the retention, expansion, creation and attraction of more black people starting businesses and creating jobs.
We believe the black business community has what it takes to compete in the global economy with a world-class business environment.
RATIONAL
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Because the Black business community needs a controlling philosophy by which black communities will achieve greater self-sufficiency and because Black owned businesses are key to the success of this movement.
•Because the Black business community has a need to offer Black people new ways of seeing, thinking and behaving in all areas of business.
•Because the Black business community needs a self-empowerment plan that presents new strategies for black Milwaukee’s intellectual, economic, and civic development.
•Because the Black business community must have a plan to alter certain unacceptable behaviors among blacks towards one another.
•Because the plan must be exclusive and call for a broad range of economic strategies to improve conditions within the Black business community, including the establishment of commitments towards and covenants to the community of Black business within the network.
Hispanic contractors only attain 1.6% of Federal highway contracts. It is Economic Apartheid! State by State breakdown for Fiscal Year 2008
Hispanic Contractors have been cut out of government contracting with the Federal Highway Administration to the tune of 1.6% participation. This is truly shameful and we must fight to gain minorities and women-owned business participation in contracts!
National Black Chamber of Commerce
1350 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 405, Washington DC 20036
202-466-6888 202-466-4918fax www.nationalbcc.org info@nationalbcc.org
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1. NBCC Press Conference: NBCC Chair Sherrie Gilchrist will hold a Press Conference concerning the new Legacy Project on January 27, 10:00AM in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. There, she and other key members of the NBCC will share our new Certification Program for affiliated chapters, our Worldwide Business Directory, and the many training programs we will unveil for 2010. This is going to take the NBCC and its members to a new and improved level and will further make us the most dynamic and largest Black business association in the world. Those wanting to come to the Press Conference should contact Kay at kdebow@nationalbcc.org.
2. Save the Date: Our 18th Annual Convention will be held in Houston, Texas, during July 22 – 24, 2010. This is promising to be the biggest event yet. Plan on coming and getting empowered by some of the most dynamic speakers, corporate partners from the Fortune 100 corporations, learn about new procurement opportunities, share best practices with our upper crust chapters, network with key entrepreneurs from around the world and discover the fine hospitality of the great city of Houston. Exhibition booths are now available for booking. Hotel information is forthcoming in a few weeks.
3. EPA Goals Must Be Met: Administrator Lisa Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has set new goals for DBE’s at 11% and WBE’s at 11% respectively. Prime contractors are now scrambling to recruit new suppliers and this is a fine opportunity for our members. We have been contacted by Corman Construction seeking DBE’s for their Maryland projects. Those wishing to pursue should contact Bonnie Hulme at bhulme@cormanconstruction.com.
4. Sham Alert: You are strongly advised to beware of a group calling itself the Regional Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, AKA West Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, operating out of Los Angeles, CA. We are not associated with them in any way and despise their business (so called) practices and deplorable court record amongst other complaints. We will assist their victims in having the California Attorney General shut them down. This should be a lesson for all of us. If you have questions about any entity calling itself a “chamber of commerce” please check with us for a due diligence referral via jedwards@nationalbcc.org.
Worldwide Black Business Directory: We will be launching an interactive directory of Black owned businesses this autumn. All chambers should begin compiling a list of their business owners for free submission to our website. This is going to be big! Anyone traveling to a destination can refer to the site and do local business with chamber members. This will be a great benefit for members of local chapters and a membership builder for our affiliates. We are partnering with the Empowerment Experiment Foundation on this project. For more information please contact Charles DeBow at cdebow@nationalbcc.org. Only affiliated chapters and direct members can participate.
Throwing Down on Section 3 and Title VI: The NBCC gave Congressional Testimony on September 23 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Chaired by Congressman Ed Towns and Ranking Member Darrell Issa). We zeroed in on the deplorable discrimination at the Federal Highway Administration (Title VI) and the missed opportunities on HUD funded projects via Section 3 enforcement. It’s on now and we will hammer this until vast improvement is made. It’s very ironic when the issue of Civil Rights has the Republican side cheering us on and the Democratic side in defense mode. Whatever! (Testimony)
To Members and Friends:
On August 31, 2009, various members of the NBCC Board of Directors and member business owners held a conference call with staff from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The subject was: Are Black owned firms benefiting from the Recovery Act (Stimulus). The following is a recap of our response.
The economic Stimulus Bill is well intended. The rules issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearly stated that all laws pertaining to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Executive Order 11246, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, etc. are applicable. However, when the money started flowing to our communities the procurement process had not changed. There has been no increase in Black business participation; in fact, much of the activity has been going down so fast that diversity or minority participation does not even exist in much of the procurements.
The major share of Stimulus money has come through state and local departments of transportation. The required Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program hardly exists. With normal funds state departments do less than 1.1% with Black firms. From what we see so far, they don’t attain a third of that with stimulus money. Local governments have no interest in minority business inclusion of the stimulus money. They do this without impunity.
Other federal agencies such as Department of Defense are continuing the practice of bundling contracts to the point that no disadvantaged business could approach a bid or RFP. The stimulus funds are coming down in $1 billion and $500 million dollars chunks and companies like Halliburton, Shaw, Lockheed, etc. are the true recipients and beneficiaries of the Stimulus Bill. They have no regard to subcontracting with minority owned firms and no one from the federal level is forcing them to do that.
Capital access is as elusive as ever. The banks that have TARP money are using it to clean up their own balance sheets. The thought of making loans to small business has not even crossed their minds and there are no safe guards to require them to do this. Also, bonding requirements have certainly not changed. Thus, any pots of money for increased bonding availability are useless as the big issue is to be eligible to be bonded. Technical assistance is what is needed to increase bonding capacity. This is not being addressed.
Finally, to include Black owned businesses into federal procurement including the Stimulus Bill we must have rules and safeguards that are enforceable. Agencies, grant recipients, etc. must comply with Title VI or face fines, freezing of funding, cancellations and other penalties. Until there is “teeth” in the programs “being nice” will never happen. In the history of equal opportunity in the federal procurement arena there has never been a withholding of funds or fines assessed for lack of compliance. That time is overdue.
“Intentional discrimination creates habit, habit creates attitude and attitude creates a culture. We must work on changing the culture in order to correct the past injustices.” Larry Ivory, Chair, Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and NBCC Board Member.
