FamilyBusinessChallenge

Concepts: The concepts behind these initiatives are rooted in growing black business, improving black education and elevating the stand of living thus the quality of life for black communities. These are initiatives that will benefit Wisconsin’s overall business community. These are innovative solutions that improve the way we do business and live our lives in Wisconsin. Each initiative is cost effective and will give the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce a leadership presence that will resonate throughout the business, faith based and education communities. Our initiatives are in line with several organizations whose approach is to community development with a commitment to leadership - across institutions, age groups, genders and races. We could say that these initiatives are the action part of any initiatives to improve Wisconsin’s business community. Designed to be implemented state wide at every level of business these initiatives signal a new approach to addressing the lack of employment activity within the black community.

Join The Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated

for the 2010 Family Business Challenge:

This program will challenge every family to review the idea of starting some type of family business. This program will be supported by current members of the chamber and other business professionals through our business building and development seminars and workshops set up throughout the state. Workshops are related to Responsibilities of Business Ownership.

We will secure support from the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, Common Councils, County Boards and the Mayor's office. We will see an increase in the purchase of goods and services including: attending seminars and workshops, buying technology services and supplies.

We will help families to understand that the only reason for going into business should be that you have a great business opportunity, or a concept that neatly fills a gap in the market and is feasible. Families need to be able to back this up with good commercial skills, a burning determination and the diligence to make it work.

We will help families to identify the need to be realistic, too. Families need to evaluate skill and determine whether they have the ones they need, or whether they can develop them (or hire someone who already has them).

We will help families to understand how they must evaluate family stability. Stability is important in owning a business and is an important step that must be faced. In evaluating not only your desire for a business of your own, families will need to consider what is involved in running a business, and what roles each will have to play as the owner/managers.

Finally, we will help families get a good understanding of what they want to get out of their own business. i.e. more time with the family, a stable income, something to call you own.

The 2010 Family Business Challenge Celebration will take place November 27, 2010 at The African American Women's Center, 3020 W. Vliet Street in Milwaukee, WI.