1. Capital Call in Virginia:  You are invited to attend the 2005 MBE Capital Call – conference, Exhibition, and Venture Forum June 5 – 7, 2005 at the Holiday Inn – Virginia Beach Executive Center, in Virginia Beach, VA.  The Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation is opening the doors to capital and credit for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs).  The 2005 MBE Capital Call will introduce MWBEs to myriad resources for capital and credit and expose private and public capital markets to business opportunities with MWBEs.  Visit www.vhcdc.org/capitalcall for complete details.

2. Historic Event in Trenton:  The Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Black Executive Awards Reception and Half-Day Conference February 24 and 25 at the Trenton Marriott in Trenton, NJ.  Participants will be coming from Ghana, Jamaica as well as “who’s who” of New Jersey.  Keynoting will be Ken Mehlman, Chairman of the Republican National Committee.  This is the beginning of an RNC initiative to tell its story and take notes from the Black business community of America.  Any other chambers interested in the possibility of Mr. Mehlman keynoting their annual event should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For this particular event call 609-393-5933 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3. African Stock Markets:  For 2003, amongst the 25 best performing markets in terms of % change in price index, according to Standard and Poors, the Ghana Stock Exchange was third overall returning a performance of 140.3%.  The Kenya Stock Exchange was eleventh overall returning a performance of 104.8%.  We congratulate our affiliates in Ghana and Kenya for this great success.  The 2004 numbers will be in soon and we expect continued success.

4. Kudos for Arkansas:  Arkansas small businesses will face a friendlier regulatory environment, thanks to an Executive Order signed by Governor Mike Huckabee.  The executive order gives Arkansas’ small businesses a voice in the state’s regulatory process.  It is modeled from the national Small Business Office of Advocacy.  Every state should emulate this and include small business in the policy process.

5. National Business Incubation Association:  Showcase your products, services and organization in front of a worldwide audience of small business experts.  The National Business Incubation Association’s 19th International Conference on Business Incubation is the largest gathering of business incubation and business assistance professionals in the world and presents the latest information and research in the industry.  The conference will take place May 15 – 18, 2005, in Baltimore, MD.  To learn more about the event visit www.nbia.org/nbia_events/conf2005/index.php.

6. Board Seat for Kay:  NBCC Executive Vice President Kay DeBow has been recently nominated to the Board of Directors for the National Industries for Severely Handicapped, NISH.  NISH works with the federal government in providing contracts to businesses who hire a significant amount of physically challenged workers.  Congratulations Kay!

7. We Love Kenya:  Our recent trade mission to Kenya was a complete success.  This office will publish notes from that historic trip within the next week.  Kenya is next to Heaven.  The beauty of the countryside; bustling Nairobi; friendly and professional people; Mt. Kilimanjaro; national parks; tea/coffee/horticulture farms all at 7000 feet altitude.  This is the beginning of a progressive business and tourism relationship.  We are going back in May!

8. 2005 Memberships:  We are still accepting memberships for 2005.  Click here to be an active member of the NBCC. 

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

THE NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.