eBlast October 28, 2010

1. Church Black Chamber of Commerce Program: We are extremely proud to announce that we have started our formal Church Black Chamber of Commerce Program. All churches with congregations of 4,000 or more are encouraged to join our program and economically empower their congregations and the communities they serve. Bethel’s Family Church has launched the Bethel’s Place Black Chamber of Commerce. Rev. Walter August is the Senior Pastor of this 8,000 member congregation (in Houston, Texas) and Deacon Leon Jenkins will be the President of the Chamber. Deacon Jenkins will also be the Chair of the NBCC Church Black Chamber of Commerce Committee. This chapter already has 180 business owners as charter members. Both Rev. August and Deacon Jenkins will be at our Fall Summit, Nov. 11 – 13, to present their model program. 93rd St. Baptist Church, Miami, FL, Rev. Carl Johnson, Pastor, will be the next up and running Church Chamber. Alfred St. Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA is starting to get underway. We are going to replicate this model throughout the nation, if not the world.

2. Timothy Simon to Kick Off the Summit: The Honorable Timothy Simon, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission, and a champion of minority procurement will give the opening speech at the Summit’s Thursday Reception, Nov. 11 at our Summit.

3. NBCC Web Procurement Portal and Business Directory: Charles DeBow will kick off our new procurement portal which will contain bids, RFP’s, quotes, etc. for every agency in the federal government and for 37 states. Donna Byrd, Publisher of TheRoot.com, will debut the virtual worldwide Black business directory which all NBCC members can get a listing absolutely free.

4. Kenya is Calling You: The nation of Kenya is in the beginning stages of rebuilding the infrastructure and energy system of the entire nation. Its goal is to develop a Black Middle Class in Africa for the first time by the year 2030. Ambassador Odembo will be speaking at the Summit explaining how the nation is opening its doors to African American entrepreneurs to participate in this noble gigantic project. Let’s not let China, India and the usual “suspects” of Europe to jump in without competition from us. Come and learn how we can access this great opportunity.

5. Making the SBA Accountable: The Latino Coalition and the NBCC have a standing MOU and together we will work to make the Small Business Administration an agency that reports accurate numbers in Black and Hispanic procurement and will address all of the opportunities available, not a selected token amount. Together we are going to change this. Keynoting at lunch on Nov. 12 will be the Honorable Hector Barreto, CEO of the Latino Coalition and former Administrator of the SBA (he knows where the “traps” are). The “wall” is about to come down.

6. Green Jobs/Green Contracts/Green Capital: We have two segments during the Summit that will address these subjects. Come and learn where the grants, training, lending and contracts are and prepare to go after them.

7. Black Student Unions: Like our churches, our Black student unions which operate on college campuses throughout this nation need to get organized from an economic empowerment perspective. Come and hear about the structure of our Black Student Unions and learn how we can mentor, connect and work together on specific projects.

8. Much, Much More: Our Board of Directors meeting will be open to registrants (New Chair, 2011, Election will take place), Governor Gary Johnson, Chairman, Our America Initiative, will discuss their plans for 2011. Bill Kovacs of the US Chamber of Commerce will talk about good and bad regulations. Anthony Robinson will discuss the findings of our field hearings and the impact they can have on future Small and Disadvantaged Business programs. Special attention will be given to California Chamber Executives as we begin to rebuild this decimated state of affairs created over the last few decades in this state. This is the EVENT OF THE YEAR and you can have it for only $40!

9. We’ve made the Fall Summit so convenient: Fly into LAX, call the Westin Shuttle to pick you up, enjoy the low hotel rates and the phenomenally low meeting registration rate which includes networking reception, lunch and dynamic speakers. No excuses see you there! Click here for all the info.