2.  Partners for Tax Credit Financing:  If you are in the business of providing affordable housing through the utilization of tax credit financing, there are partnership possibilities for you.  Federal tax credits are made available to developers seeking to commit a housing facility to low-income rent restrictions for a minimum of 30 years.  The tax credits are available for new construction, as well as for the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing facilities.  On a competitive basis, interested developers apply to the state’s Housing Finance Agency for approval of the desired tax credit request or allocation.  If you have experience in the housing market and want to partner with other capable players contact Charles DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3.  Working with FEMA:  The NBCC and FEMA are starting a new and well organized partnership.  We will learn how to do business with FEMA, how to prepare your business for a disaster (continuation plan), making emergencies friendly to those with disabilities, tying FEMA and the faith based community together, etc.  FEMA will participate at our upcoming 18th Annual Convention and looks forward to meeting the NBCC Nation.

4.  Finalizing the Agenda:  We will be finalizing the official Agenda for the 18th Annual Convention, July 22 – 24th, 2010, at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel ($129 per night) in Houston, TX.  Those corporations wanting to participate via workshops, eating events, exhibits should contact us immediately as we will “chip the Agenda in stone” within the next seven days.  All requests and inquiries should come via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For more information on the convention click here.

“I was a ten year old naïve Black kid living in a predominantly white community.  Unlike my relatives in inner city Los Angeles, there were few Blacks in my school (Their schools were all Black).  My hometown of Oxnard, California was only 8% Black to begin with.  All Black characters on television and at the movies were buffoons.  There was Beulah, Aunt Jemima, Buckwheat, Lightning, Amos and Andy and others.  The school books slandered our heritage and denied our true contributions to history.  It was so depressing until one evening on television appeared the most beautiful woman in the world.  She was singing “Stormy Weather” and her beauty and voice struck me like a bolt of lightening.  It was so inspirational to know that someone of that ilk and class was also Black.  I fell in love with Lena Horne that night and have been in love ever since. She didn’t talk the talk; she walked the walk.  To this date I have a portrait of Lena Horne hanging in my living room.  God bless Lena Horne and farewell.”   Harry C. Alford Jr.