1. China Trade Mission: NBCC Board Member Larry Ivory has been invited to participate in a formal Trade Mission to China by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.  Larry will be there for ten days beginning September 16 and will give us updates via email each day.  Let’s see what this economic “giant” is all about.  Bon voyage Mr. Ivory!

2. New York MWBE Monitoring Opportunity: The State of New York has issued an RFP for firms who can manage their Minority and Women Business Enterprise  Monitoring and Compliance System per the latest Disparity Study.  It is time sensitive and those firms interested in competing should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3. OPIC to Hold Small Business Seminars: The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)  will conduct seminars for U.S. small businesses in Orange County, CA and Miami, FL in the fall of 2011.  The Orange County seminar will be held September 29 at the DoubleTree Hotel Anaheim in Orange.  The Miami seminar will be held October 26 at the Hilton Miami Airport.  Companies interested in attending may register online at www.rgameetings.com/opic.

4.  Hatching New Chapters: We will begin taking applications for entrepreneurs wishing to help in organizing a new statewide chapter in Indiana.  This project is a reorganization of what we started by in 1991. This umbrella chapter will work with local chapters located in Lake County, Ft. Wayne, Elkhart, South Bend, Muncie, Anderson, Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Evansville.  Those interested should contact Chuck DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5.  Updates for Hurricane Irene: To stay informed about Hurricane Irene as well as other disasters please go to:

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

Be careful out there and God bless.