1.  Opportunity for Additional Staff:  The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc is partnering with the NBCC to provide our chapters with additional staffing via funding from the US Department of Labor.  The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) will provide you candidates to select from.  Once you make an offer, the USDOL will pay the salary, taxes and workmen’s compensation for the employee.  One important requirement is that your chamber has to be officially documented (IRS letter) as a 501©3 corporation.  Anything else will not apply.  If you are a 501©3 and are interested contact Chuck DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for screening and referral.

2.  Land Bargain in Trenton, NJ:  There are people offering commercial mixed property valued at $6.5 million for $1.25 million.  The city of Trenton will provide incentives for interested buyers.  If you have an interest or seek more information please contact our New Jersey chapter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  John Harmon will be more than happy to assist.

3.  One More Problem with the energy bill:  The Kerry Lieberman American Power Act (Senate version of Cap and Trade) has a very serious flaw.  It has been discovered that language encouraging Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s which are union only projects) is in the proposed legislation.  Former “Green Jobs Czar” Van Jones sent out an email last week bragging about getting this program and language into the bill.  Watch out the commies are coming!  Like Cap and Trade we will vigorously oppose this legislation.

4.  Excellent Legacy Project Meeting:  We want to thank our Chair Sherrie Gilchrist for hosting the Region 4 Legacy Project meeting which delivers technical support and assistance to our local chapters.  Chapters from the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ohio and Indiana participated in the very productive event.  They all had compelling experiences to share and left the meeting more empowered than ever.  We will be delivering the next session on Saturday, July 24 during our 18th Annual Convention in Houston, TX.  All convention registrants are invited. (Event)

5.  Field Hearings Continue:  We are continuing to perform field hearings where entrepreneurs give their testimony about the barriers to success that they have experienced and/or are experiencing.  The next venues are Houston, Richmond, VA, Portland, OR, Cleveland and Jacksonville, FL.  Our final report will be published in September, 2010 and initially presented to the Congressional Black Caucus.  If you want your city to participate please contact our Chair, NBCC Construction Committee, Sam Foley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

6. A Very Ugly Picture at the FCC:  First the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversaw the Stimulus Bill to provide broadband grants via US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture.  When the billions of dollars in grant money was let the minority applicants did not get a dime.  What happened to diversity and deploying broadband in minority communities?  Then the FCC Chairman started cozying up to Google via his support of the nasty Net Neutrality issue.  Google is the corporation that has a dismal track record in hiring Blacks and Hispanics.  The record is so anti-American that when people try to get the factual statistics via Freedom of Information Act requests, Google goes to court to suppress the release of the deplorable figures.  Wouldn’t it be easier to just practice equal opportunity?  Then there is the biggest slap in the face of the minority population of this nation.  The FCC Chairman has elected to remove the civil rights language from their guidelines.  Yes, the language that was put into the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is going away (Sec. 257 (47 U.S.C. 257).  Yes, the Digital Divide is starting to widen thanks to the FCC.  Look at the crucial language that the FCC is ripping out of its guidelines:  

SEC. 257. [47 U.S.C. 257] MARKET ENTRY BARRIERS PROCEEDING.

(a) ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS.--Within 15 months after the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Commission shall complete a proceeding for the purpose of identifying and eliminating, by regulations pursuant to its authority under this Act (other than this section), market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the provision and ownership of telecommunications services and information services, or in the provision of parts or services to providers of telecommunications services and information services.

(b) NATIONAL POLICY.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Commission shall seek to promote the policies and purposes of this Act favoring diversity of media voices, vigorous economic competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

(c) PERIODIC REVIEW.--Every 3 years following the completion of the proceeding required by subsection (a), the Commission shall review and report toCongress on-- (1) any regulations prescribed to eliminate barriers within its jurisdiction that are identified under subsection (a) and that can beprescribed consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity; and (2) the statutory barriers identified under subsection (a) that the Commission recommends be eliminated, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Why are they eliminating this?  It is simple – they don’t support it.  To not fight the above actions would be to support them.  Let’s fight!