1.  Register for Fall Summit: In order for us to keep an accurate head count (for meals) you must pre-register for the November Fall Summit.  The response has been sensational with members coming from as far as France to attend and actively participate.  It is here that we will set our 2012 Action Agenda and, also, elect our new Chair for the year 2012.  Our affinity programs (revenue streams for affiliates), contract opportunities, policy issues and growth initiatives will be finalized at this event.  Don’t miss this opportunity!

2. We Love Botswana! Our Trade Mission to Botswana last week was an overwhelming success.  We have discovered a “well kept secret”.  This nation is ready for “prime time” and we look forward to a continuous flow of entrepreneurial activity between us.  The people are just beautiful; the government is accountable and the business opportunities are clear.  We will provide you with a formal written briefing next week.  Pursuit of contracts has already begun by some of our Trade Mission participants.  Matchmaking will be the key as their businesses are on the same level as ours and we can easily merge our capacities to take on projects throughout the African Diaspora. Here is just one example of our counterparts/new partners in Botswana – www.mpi.co.bw.

3.  East Africa Market, Access, & Trade Policies Webinar: With 230 million consumers and a regional GDP of over $144 billion, East Africa is becoming recognized among top consultancies as the next frontier for U.S. businesses and investments.  The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the centerpiece for US trade policy with Africa that aims to enhance trade through liberalized trading policies.  The East Africa Community’s (EAC) mission is to widen and deepen economic integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments.  The U.S. Commercial Service will be hosting a very informative webinar involving Agribusiness, Information and Communication Technologies, Medical, Renewable Energy and Infrastructure sectors.  This event will take place on November 16, 2011 – 12:00PM EST.  The fee for this is $45.00.  You will hear from the Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and from U.S. companies doing business in the region.  You will also hear how the USG finance agencies can support your efforts.  They will provide you with answers to your questions during a highly focused and interactive webinar setting.  Register Now:  https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=2Q2C .

4.  Construction Opportunities in DC: KBK Enterprises is opening a construction division in the greater Washington, DC area.  They are interested in starting relationships with subcontractors in all trades.  Specifically, they are seeking W/MBE, CBE and Section 3 firms that have multi-family and residential construction experience.  Those interested should contact:  David Scott, KBK Enterprises-DC, 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20020,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5.  Welcome to AGOA: We congratulate the newest nations who are now certified for participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act.  Niger, Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea are now ready for enhanced business interaction.

6.  House Small Business Committee: Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) reports the following activities: 1. The 3% withholding on federal contracts has been repealed by the House. 2. There is now a crackdown on federal contract fraud, especially with false claims of minority business participation, please report to us any such activity. 3. The General Accounting Office has just busted the Departments of Agriculture, Treasury and State for noncompliance with the Small Business Act.  Congressional hearings are being set up to deal with this.

7.  HUBZone Debacle: The NBCC strongly supports H. R. 2131 which addresses a revision by the Small Business Administration in which HUBZone boundaries were redrawn “willy nilly”.  This SBA action has placed thousands of small minority owned companies in jeopardy of becoming empty store fronts and returning hundreds of thousands of newly employed individuals to unemployment and poverty.  This proposed bill has bi-partisan sponsorship and will extend the HUBZone as it was for at least three more years.  Please let your congressional members know of your support – it is critical!

8.  Comments Needed: It is very important that we comment on the proposed rule to further emaciate minority business programs at the federal level.  For the last few years there has been a constant withering of the Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) program.  No longer does the SBA provide formal certification of this status (allowing self declaration that is polluted with fraud); a constant downward spiral of true minority participation with federal contracts and now this:  Further dilution with the agencies of Defense, NASA and the Coast Guard.  Help us fight for the opportunities won via the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the era of Dr. Martin Luther King. To comment: https://www.ncmahq.org/NewsPublications/LegAlertDetail.cfm?itemnumber=10488

News reports from Botswana:

http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=12237&GroupID=3

http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=12299&GroupID=3