1.  “We can’t find any Black businesses”: How many times have you all heard that.  The NBCC has a solution.  We have constructed a living database of over 60,000 Black owned and certified businesses – sorted by NAIC code.  An example, a member called last week requesting companies that are in the aerospace industry.  We responded within 24 hours providing a list, replete with contact information, of 148 businesses.  Major corporations who sincerely seek to increase their vendor inventory and purchasing levels with Black owned firms should contact Charles DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

2.  Trade Missions 2011: We are traveling to Kenya during June 12 – 17; Belize during July 11 – 16; Colombia during August 24 – 27 and Botswana during late October.  If you have an interest in traveling to any of these nations to explore business opportunities and/or to just venture out please contact Harry Alford at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3. Utilize Your Small Business Development Centers: We want to formally welcome Darrell A. Brown as the new Executive Director of the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center headquartered at Howard University.  As opposed to Minority Business Development Centers, SBDC’s are not fee based.  These centers provide no cost business counseling, and no cost or low cost training, and information services to pre-venture business entrepreneurs, business start-ups, and existing business owners.  For a directory of SBDC’s go to www.asbdc-us.org.

4.  Making AGOA Better: The African Growth and Opportunity Act will be up for renewal this September.  There have been some glitches in the past that we would like to correct and ensure that Africa and the United States can benefit from this program without interference from other regions of the world or manipulation by self-interested corporations. We will be working with the office of Congressman Bobby Rush and a group of African ambassadors.  In addition, we want to garner support for H.R. 656, written by Congressman Rush.  We will have a panel of African Ambassadors and officials at our 19^th Annual Convention, July 21 – 23, 2011 in Miami, FL discussing this initiative. Here’s to a prosperous Africa.

5.  Time to Raise Funding: For those of you who have received orientation for Frigi-Tech products, we have officially executed our agreement with Southeast Vocational Alliance.  You are now guaranteed 10% on all sales you generate.  The Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey African American Chamber of Commerce have already hit the “ground” running.

6.  White House Seeks to Divide and Conquer: The road to betrayal can sometimes lead to strange places.  This time it is our own White House.  They will fail as all others have because, simply put, YOU CANNOT COPY INNOVATION.  To quote the words of that great American poet:  “You can’t touch this”.  What are we talking about?  Read this: http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1308:did-obama-kneecap-prominent-black-business-group-nbcc-for-dissent&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=7

7. CALTRANS DBE Program Survives Court Action: The Associated General Contractors once again filed a lawsuit trying to kick out the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program with the California Department of Transportation, CALTRANS.  Keep in mind they were upset over the fact that California does around 5% of its total with white women and ethnic minorities.  That’s right they (white males) get 95% of the contracts in a state that is 54% minority and 25%+ white female and they filed suit over that 5%.  The judge denied them with a summary judgment. Here’s the press release.