1. 13th Annual Convention in South Beach:  Our upcoming annual convention will be held at the Royal Palm Crown Plaza Hotel, South Beach, FL (Miami), July 21 – 23, 2005.  This will be the first in a continuous venue selection from members of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD).  We are proud to begin nurturing a strong relationship with these 21st century style entrepreneurs.  At the same time NABHOOD will also be having their annual convention at the Royal Palm and this will present our participants with a great networking opportunity.

2. We Support the Velazquez Amendment:   While 23 percent of contracting dollars spent domestically must include small businesses, there is no requirement that small companies have access to the bulk of overseas contracts.  Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, successfully passed an amendment that would require contracts funded by H.R. 1286, The Supplemental Appropriations Bill, to be included in the calculation of the federal government’s small business achievement goals.  This is progress!  Now let’s get it through the Senate.

3. SBA Expo ’05 Early Bird Registration will end Today:  Join us at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBA Expo ’05:  “Celebrating National Small Business Week” in Washington, DC, April 26 – 28.  Learn cutting edge business practices; take advantage of procurement opportunities and network.  Early Bird registration deadline is March 24, today.  Hilton Washington Hotel room reservation deadline to take advantage of special Expo rate is also today.  Take advantage by http://www.sba.gov/expo/index.html.

 4. We Support CAFTA:  Before the 109th Congress is the Central American Free Trade Agreement.  CAFTA will create tariff free trading between the United States and the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.  Since it is in the mission of the NBCC to promote capitalism and entrepreneurship in communities of African descent within America and throughout the Diaspora, we give this proposal our total support.  The impact on our constituents doing business in these countries will be exponential.  For example, cheese being imported from these nations now carries a duty of 60%.  Pineapples, sugar, bananas, textiles and thousands of other items could now be obtained at great savings that could be passed on to our consumers and increase the sales of our businesses.  This is a big step in International Trade and we will become active in promoting the advantages of CAFTA.  Our upcoming Fall Summit will be devoted to CAFTA and will be held in one of the CAFTA nations, probably Costa Rica. All other organizations, local and national, are encouraged to join the CAFTA Coalition via www.uscafta.org (click on “Contact Us”).

5. Opportunities at Washington Dulles Airport:  First Transit, Inc., based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is seeking DBE certified firms for partnerships for subcontracting work at the Washington Dulles International Airport in the following areas:  propane fuel, diesel fuel, bus washing equipment, bus washing services, ride checks, farebox analysis, service quality checks, plumbing services, janitorial services, leasehold improvements, radios, security, uniforms, bus parts and office supplies.  Anyone wishing to compete should contact Richelle Gibson at 513-684-8857 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

6.  Trade Mission to Afghanistan:  Assistant Secretary of Commerce William H. Lash, III will lead a Trade Mission to Kabul, Afghanistan during April 24 – 27, 2005.  To request an official application, please contact www.export.gov/afghanistan/events or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  The deadline for registration is March 31, 2005.

 7.  The Effect of the ANC’s:  We will participate in a discussion with the Senate Small Business Committee on March 30 about the Alaskan Native Corporations.  This misnomer, it’s actually Alaskan and Hawaiian businesses, allows businesses located in these two states to automatically enter into the SBA 8a program regardless of their size.  Predictably they are eating a disproportionate share of contract set asides that would have gone to traditional 8a and/or small companies.  It’s abusive and something needs to be done.  Any comments or suggestions are welcomed by March 29 via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To the 100,000 business owners who read this eBLAST, we are;

THE NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.