1.  Save the Date for a Gigantic International Opportunity: This project will be as important and as big as the United States Interstate System of the 1950’s – 1960’s.  It is the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia (LAPSSET) Transport and Economic Corridor.  There will be a meeting on this amazing plan on April 30, 2012, here in Washington, DC at OPIC’s (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) headquarters.  More details on the time will follow.  There will be projects for everyone!  Components of the development are:  Lamu (Kenya) Deepwater Port at Manda Bay; 880 km of new Highway; 1,710 km of new Railway Line; Oil Pipelines (1,260 km for crude oil and 980 km for products from Lamu to Isiolo, and Isiolo to South Sudan and Isiolo to Ethiopia; Oil Refinery (120,000 BPD) in Lamu; Airports at Lamu, Isiolo and Turkana; new Resort Cities at Lamu, Isiolo and Turkana.  Other opportunities include: water supply and sanitation projects; fiber optic cable connections; energy generation and supply projects; irrigation projects; industrial parks; minerals exploitation and waste management. After completion of this massive venture, a second transport and economic corridor will eventually connect Lamu with Doulala, Cameroon which will give the African Continent an Intercontinental highway, railway and pipeline connecting the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.  Clearly this is a great economic boon and the possibilities are endless.  All entrepreneurs are requested to join in!

2.  Hot Activity in Florida: Here is a great article about NBCC Board Member Gene Franklin and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce.  We congratulate Gene and his members on their continued success.

3.  Kudos from a Model Member: We received the following letter from the President of the Decatur, IL Black Chamber of Commerce:  Dear NBCC President Mr. Harry Alford,

Words cannot express my appreciation and honor that you bestowed upon me to appear before the House of Congress with the agenda that you have set forth. Among the number of Chamber’s and Member’s both large and small you sought out me and I can’t express how appreciative I am. My passion and desire for the Small African American Minority Business runs through my blood and veins and I just want to express my commitment to you my National President and my State President-National Chairman Mr. Larry Ivory. If I may extend you my kudos to Mr. Ivory and your selection as the National Chairman; there could not have been a better candidate than Larry that could handle the responsibility and demand of this position. I have been fortunate to participate and attend meetings and sit our conference calls across the state and nation and each opportunity I come away with a new direction that has made me a better President and Business owner.

Larry loves and lives for his job and position and I just hope under both of your guidance and tutelage that I can be the leader or follow in the footsteps that have been laid before me. Again President Alford thank you-Thank you-Thank you……any day or night if you need me I am there.

Humbly appreciative, Anthony C. Walker

4.  We Need your Survey Responses: If you haven’t filled out your SBA Surveys, please do so as soon as you can.  It only takes about two minutes.  We want to report to the Congressional Black Caucus on the relevancy of the Small Business Administration’s field offices.  We must have a good sampling to be credible. Thanks!

5.  Reserve Your Hotel: For the best rates, reserve your room now at the 5 star Four Seasons Hotel on Peach Street in Atlanta.  Rates start at $145.00 and the early bird registration rate for the conference is still available for just $150.00. Go to www.nbccconvention.org