BBA News SEPTEMBER 2010 by Black Business News Group

In This Issue... President’s Message…page 3 Consumer Protection Act…page 6 Building Business Success…page 19 Increasing Contract Opportunities with SBA…page 61

Dear AEG Partner: AEG is pleased to announce the launch of our new

Supplier Portal, an online communication tool designed to enhance the relationship between AEG and our partners. The portal is an online and paperless tool that will provide you with: Increased visibility for AEG business opportunities Extended Company Profile in online directory Direct email updates from AEG clients and buyers Easy accounts payable information sharing Increased exposure for MBEs, WBEs, and DBEs It is important that you register your business so that we have the ability to contact you for participation in future opportunities. Suppliers seeking to initiate business with AEG are encouraged to register as well. Registration is simple and we invite you to visit our Supplier Portal at your earliest convenience:

https://supplier.aegworldwide.com

President’s Message Earl “Skip” Cooper, II President/Chief Executive Officer

Major Corporations vs. Black-Owned Enterprises

he Black Business Association (BBA) is now crossing a fortyyear threshold of serving as a consistent and effective advocate for the increased use of African Americanowned and -operated business enterprises. The BBA’s work experience is vast, encompassing a magnanimous journey of American small business development and a plethora of successful socioeconomic outcomes. Yet, a great amount of inclusion for black-owned suppliers remains unattainable in both the private and public sectors. The current condition of the world economy is providing explicit permission for corporate representatives to cut back on everything from advertising, office supplies, and travel, in addition to diversity supplier outreaches and outcomes. Also, it is generally accepted as fact that the interest to extend contracts to small, lesser-known firms is sadly not a routine part of the day-to-day culture of major American corporate enterprise. The rising costs of energy/fuel, competitive market distinction, governmental compliance/influence, and even the latest green sustainability movement are all factors that have moved black-owned business inclusion practices to a distant priority among corporate procurement professionals. Taking a snapshot of the economy shows that the top 25 black-owned business concerns, as published by Black Enterprise Magazine, collectively earned $15 billion in revenue last year. For the same period, Fortune Magazine published the top 25 private corporations’ gross revenue

earnings in excess of $3 trillion. The revenue tale of calculator tape that reflects black-owned firms generate ½ of one percent relative to the revenue of major corporations. Moreover, this point makes it strangely coincidental that corporate contracting percentages for black-owned firms echo the same level, hovering around one percent of total annual outsourcing spend, which is for the most part accountable to the outcomes produced by corporate procurement specialists. Even though black-owned firms have demonstrated superior cost containment measures in the maintenance of viable business enterprise and these firms also consistently deliver bottomline savings, corporate procurement professionals are still not regularly attending community events to make the connection and follow through on positive outcomes with black-owned firms. Procurement management professionals should open wider their objectives, to unfold broader business initiatives for making black business utilization a priority within the supply chain sourcing functions. The need for better engagement between buyers and sellers in America should and will not go unanswered, especially in light of the BBA’s forty years of operation and dedication. We extend an unstinting invitation to a huge opportunity for both buyers and sellers to participate in the BBA’s Seventh Annual Procurement Exchange Summit on November 4, 2010, at the Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel, 6101 Century Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. This event works to raise the oppor-

tunities for buyers and sellers make a real exchange of diversity and supplier procurement strategy in a couple of distinct areas. First, in order to protect the overall integrity of economic development, we identify major corpora-

Are there key pressures forcing procurement specialists to avoid buying products and services from the thousands of available blackowned firms across this country? tions that demonstrate the capacity to include small businesses within their respective supply chain. Second, we believe that, to the greatest extent possible, everyone should have the right to compete for these contracts. Equally as important is the fact that participation in the Summit indicates that major corporate representatives are demonstrating the best practices to work with small, veteran, minority and womenowned business enterprises as bona fide supply chain resources. We hope that you will join us at the Procurement Exchange Summit on November 4th. Come make it a day that will dramatically impact your business’ future. 

3  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Over 40 years of service Founded 1970

Black Business Association P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-291-9234 www.facebook.com Search: Black Business Association mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Kevin M. Caliup, Treasurer AIA/E-World Strategy Narishimah Osei, Parliamentarian Osei & Associates Gwen Moore, Director GEM Communications Candida Mobely-Wright, Director Voices, Inc. Angela Walton, Director Melador Technologies, Inc. Angela Reddock, Esq., Legal Counsel

Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Northrop Grumman Corporation Raytheon Company S.C.R.P.C. Sempra Energy Southern California Edison Swinerton Builders Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. Turner Construction Company Union Bank of California USBank  Verizon Walt Disney Company WellPoint  Wells Fargo Bank Lyceum Management Services, Ex Officio Hollis Smith, Ex Officio Paulette Williams, Ex Officio

CORPORATE PARTNERS

W. Gladney ▪ C. Collins

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • N. Osei

BBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ted Davis, Chairman IsComp Systems, Inc. Nathan Freeman, Vice Chairman Figueroa Media Group, Inc. Eugene Jones, Secretary NVA Financial Group, Inc.

AEG American Honda Motor Company AT&T Bank of America The Boeing Company California Lottery Citibank Coca-Cola Enterprises Comerica Bank Department of Water & Power Donald Sterling Corporation Fannie Mae  IBM Kaiser Permanente  LAEDC Los Angeles World Airports

AFFILIATES African American Unity Caucus Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs Black Women’s Network California Black Chamber of Commerce California Council of Black Chambers The Greenlining Institute Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense & Education Fund National Black Business Council The National Association of African American Chambers of Commerce The National Black Chamber of Commerce Pan African Film & Arts Festival Recycling Black Dollars

2010 Events

February Black Business Awards Dinner - 36th Anniversary of the BBA March Salute to Black Women November Utilities Procurement Exchange Summit & Awards Luncheon December BBA 40th Year Celebration • Call for information •

323-291-9334 4  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

About the BBA… Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Los Angeles, has been instrumental in the incubation and development of more than 15,000 African-American businesses. Nationally, we have access and influence with more than 85,000 African-American-owned and women/ minority-owned firms via strategic alliances with more than 100 women/minority trade associations in more than 42 states nationwide.

___ Our Mission ___ The Black Business Association’s mission is to advocate and promote the development of African-American owned businesses with the goal of creating a firm economic base that support the self-determination and survival of the African-American and urban community by: •

Identifying and creating financial opportunities for the growth and stability of African-American owned businesses;

•

Being a community voice that advocates for the success of small businesses;

•

Being a conduit for the merging of resources, values, profits, technology and people;

•

Promoting development and support of minority business enterprises within the domestic and international economies by encouraging and generating greater access to market opportunities and capital;

•

Providing training for entrepreneurial professional development;

•

Supporting and contributing to the economic base and progress of the African-American community; and

•

Developing coalitions that support our political endeavors to effectively achieve public recognition and political influence for African-American business owners.

___ Advocacy ___ The Black Business Association maintains very effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials for the support of African-American business development. Locally, statewide and in Washington, DC, we are constantly aware of pending legislation that might affect our member’s businesses, their growth and even their ability to conduct business. When legislation is being considered that affects our mission, the BBA quickly mobilizes to work with key policy makers to support, defeat or modify the bill and pursue the BBA position. As an organization, we are constantly at the helm, securing innovative means and policies that protect our constituency and their business interests. 

In This Issue… 3

President’s Message Big vs Small

6 10 11 19 27 33

Consumer Protection 2010 MBDA News USDA Aids HBCUs Building Business Success National First Look Let’s Move!

Africa Focus Obama Salutes New Ambassador African Presidential Roundtable US Businessman Sells Solar Ovens AGOA Still Opening Doors to Trade

SBA News Increasing number of Small Business Contracts

Calendar

Columns 35 - Take A Look! 39 - Business Tools / Facebook Ad Tools 57 - Books to Consider...

BBA Action Alert 2 - AEG Supplier Portal 17 - Help for Haiti 48 - 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative Launch Cover image - Sarah Harris U.S. Small Business Administration

2007 - Journalist of the Year Award Minority Business Opportunity Corporation

2010 - Media Firm of the Year

Fighting to Protect Consumers by Elizabeth Warren

President Obama, flanked by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and special adviser Elizabeth Warren at Friday’s announcement of Warren’s appointment.

ver the past several weeks, the President and I have had extensive conversations about the vital importance of consumer financial protection. The President asked me, and I enthusiastically agreed, to serve as an Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has also asked me to take on the job to get the new CFPB started—right now. The President and I are committed to the same vision on CFPB, and I am confident that I will have the tools I need to get the job done. President Obama understands the importance of leveling the playing field again for families and creating protections that work not just for the wealthy or connected, but for every American. The new consumer bureau is based on a pretty simple idea: people ought

to be able to read their credit card and mortgage contracts and know the deal. They shouldn’t learn about an unfair rule or practice only when it bites them—way too late for them to do anything about it. The new law creates a chance to put a tough cop on the beat and provide real accountability and oversight of the consumer credit market. The time for hiding tricks and traps in the fine print is over. This new bureau is based on the simple idea that if the playing field is level and families can see what’s going on, they will have better tools to make better choices. If the CFPB can succeed at leveling the playing field, we can go a long way toward repairing a gaping hole in the budgets of millions of families. But nobody has ever thought or argued that the consumer bureau can fix everything. Lost jobs, stagnant incomes, rising costs for college, dwindling retirement savings—there’s a lot of work

to be done. When she was 16, my grandmother, Hannie Reed, drove a wagon in the Oklahoma land rush. Her mother had died, so she was up front with her little brothers and sisters bouncing around in the back. When I was growing up, she talked about life on the prairie, about marrying my grandfather and making a living building one-room schoolhouses, about getting wiped out in the Great Depression. She was hit with hard challenges throughout her life, but the moral of her stories was always the same: she would solve her problems one at a time by pulling up her socks and getting to work. It’s time for all of us to pull up our socks and get to work. 

6  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Overview of the Consumer Protection Act of 2010

he landmark federal financial reform legislation (the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010) was designed to strengthen consumer protection of financial products and services, limit taxpayer liability for financially risky banks, and prevent or stop the spread of unfair and deceptive practices. Click here to download an easy-to-print PDF of this fact sheet. Here are some of the key elements of the legislation: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau •The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will oversee financial products and services, including credit cards, mortgages, payday loans, private student loans, credit bureaus and debt collection. •The CFPB will write rules for financial products/services and will enforce the rules on the biggest banks and credit unions ($10 billion or more in assets). Other federal regulators (U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency-OCC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-FDIC), and state attorneys general, will enforce CFPB rules for smaller institutions. •At the FDIC, the Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection (DCP) will enforce the CFPB’s rules for banks with under $10 billion in assets. •The Bureau will be an independent entity housed in the Federal Reserve with a substantial budget and independent director. It will have the authority to take action to prevent or correct financial abuses. •The CFPB will write rules to require

that consumers are provided with complete and understandable information related to the costs, benefits, and risks of the financial products under the Bureau’s jurisdiction. •New consumer protection rules will be created by the CFPB to prohibit specific practices in the industry that the Bureau considers to be unfair, deceptive or abusive. •A consumer complaint system will be established by the Bureau with a tollfree phone number, website, and complaint database. The CFPB will collect, investigate and respond to complaints, set up procedures for a timely response to consumers, and monitor companies’ complaint resolution efforts. •The passage of this law marks the first time that one federal agency will be responsible for financial consumer protection. The Bureau will enforce existing law, including the Truth In Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Home Ownership & Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) and the Home Mortgage Data Act (HMDA). •The new Bureau will include the following new offices and units: • Office of Financial Education • Office of Fair Lending & Equal Opportunity • Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans • Office of Service Member Affairs • Private Student Loan Ombudsman • A Community Affairs unit will provide information and guidance to traditionally underserved communities.

•

A Research unit will study consumer access to financial products/services. •The CFPB has authority to write rules affecting mortgage down payments and disclosures, loan modifications, credit card rates and fees, bank overdraft programs, credit score usage, and eligibility for student loans, credit cards, pre-paid cards and more. •The CFPB will oversee car dealers who do their own financing (direct loans to consumers) and auto financing companies like Ally Financial (formerly General Motors Acceptance Corporation-GMAC). •The Bureau will have the authority to impose fines on companies, require restitution (repayment) to aggrieved consumers, rescind consumer contracts and/or file lawsuits against firms that violate its rules. •When a majority of states enact consumer protection rules for a specific financial product or service, the CFPB will adopt a federal rule mirroring the states’ action. •The new law allows states to impose stricter consumer financial protection rules/laws than those created by the CFPB. Mortgage reform Lenders are required to verify that borrowers have the financial ability to repay the loan, including payment increases. The CFPB will have authority over the practices of large bank and nonbank mortgage lenders, including loan originators, mortgage brokers, and ser-

7  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see Consumer Protection on page 8

Consumer Protection Act - 2010 vicers. Lenders are banned from steering consumers into high cost, unaffordable loans. The law eliminates yield spread premiums (YSPs), the bonuses paid to brokers for charging borrowers a higher interest rate than their credit histories warrant. Lenders who resell mortgages to investors must hold onto at least 5% of the riskier home loans they make. Penalties for pre-paying a mortgage are prohibited on adjustable rate loans, and limited to the first three years on fixed rate loans. Mortgage origination fees are limited to 3% of the loan (however, some fees and points are not included in this limit.) New mortgage disclosure forms will be created in an attempt to make sure consumers understand the terms of every home loan before entering into a contract. Borrowers who refinance a mortgage must receive a tangible benefit from the loan, meaning that consumers who refinance a loan must be better off after doing so. Consumers with high-cost mortgages will receive improved protections (limits on fees and penalties) under HOEPA, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act. Regulations will be written to specify which elements of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) loan data must be collected from mortgage companies. The rules also will address how the data will be disclosed publicly, while still protecting applicants’ privacy. Foreclosure prevention Emergency Homeowner Loan Program funds will be made available for unemployed homeowners to apply for bridge loans to help them prevent foreclosure. Up to $50,000 in interest-free loans will be available for up to two years to cover mortgage payments. The loans will be repaid when the home is refinanced or sold. Homeowners who are underemployed or have serious medical conditions will also be

eligible. Relief funds will also be available for neighborhoods to redevelop abandoned, foreclosed properties. The CFPB will create standards for mortgage modifications for troubled homeowners and monitor mortgage servicers’ loan modification efforts. The Bureau will write rules to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive mortgage lending and foreclosure rescue schemes. Credit scores Consumers who are denied credit, a loan—or who have received a higher interest rate based on their credit record—are entitled to a free copy of their credit score, in addition to a free credit report. The CFPB will analyze and report to Congress on the differences between credit scores sold to creditors and those sold to consumers. Private student loans A private student loan Ombudsman position will be created to resolve borrower complaints. The CFPB will conduct a study and report to Congress on costly private student lending, who uses these loans and why, and if students have borrowed the maximum allowed under safer, cheaper federal loans first. Information sharing The CFPB can write rules restricting the use of medical information for inappropriate purposes. The CFPB will establish accuracy guidelines for companies (“furnishers”) that provide information to credit bureaus. Arbitration •The CFPB will study the use of mandatory arbitration in disputes between consumers and companies that sell or service financial products. •The CFPB has the authority to ban or limit the use of binding, mandatory arbitration. Remittances Remittances are the funds that im-

migrant consumers and others send to people back home, usually by wire. The CFPB has the authority to write rules to resolve errors, create strong refund policies, and price disclosures, etc. The CFPB will study what opportunities consumers have for price comparison of remittances. Model remittance forms will be developed. Role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) The FTC, a federal agency with authority to protect consumers from misrepresentation, fraud and deception, is expected to work closely with the new Bureau, particularly on its oversight of auto dealers. Auto dealers are largely exempt from CFPB oversight, however the FTC has been given new authority to write rules related to auto dealer financing. While the CFPB is the primary regulator of financial consumer protection, the FTC is still responsible for fraud detection and prevention in the areas of: • • • • • • • •

Debt settlement/debt relief Telemarketing fraud Credit repair Foreclosure relief scams Employment scams Fake grants Pre-paid calling cards Other frauds

Other Areas of Financial Reform ‘Too big to fail’ A Financial Stability Oversight Council is established to detect risks that could damage the entire economy. An Office of Financial Research (within the U.S. Treasury Department) will collect and analyze risk data for the Oversight Council. Financial firms are required to retain more capital (money) in reserve to withstand financial crises. An Office of Complex Financial Institutions (CFI), under FDIC authority, will be responsible for winding down (liquidating) the most risky financial institutions that fail, to avoid the necessity of taxpayer bailouts.

8  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Consumer Protection Act - 2010 Deposits at FDIC insured institutions are insured up to $250,000. (This makes permanent the temporary increase enacted during the financial crisis.)

Security, disability payments etc.)

Reverse Mortgages The Bureau will identify unfair and deceptive practices in the reverse mortgage industry, and is expected to write rules to prevent such practices.

Office of Women and Minority Inclusion This new office will reside within each regulator (FDIC, OCC, CFPB) to establish standards for equal employment opportunities and assess diversity policies, practices, and minority business lending.

‘Swipe’ fees and debit cards Standards will be established to assess if the processing fees (“swipe” or interchange fees) that card companies charge merchants when consumers use debit cards are “reasonable and proportional.” The law permits merchants to offer discounts to customers who use cash instead of credit cards. Merchants are now allowed (but not required) to establish minimum purchase requirements of $10 for customers paying with credit cards.

Federal Insurance Office While insurance remains mainly state regulated, a new Federal Insurance Office (FIO) at the U.S. Treasury Department will:

Investor Protection Office of Investor Advocate will be established at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to analyze rules and regulations and recommend future regulations. An SEC Ombudsman will assist investors in resolving complaints. The SEC will conduct a study to decide whether to require brokers to operate in a client’s best interest (fiduciary duty). Financial advisors currently have a fiduciary duty.

Pre-paid cards A study will be conducted on card fees and the use of pre-paid cards in federal and state programs (ex. Social

Identify gaps in regulation • Recommend stricter standards where needed • Study underserved communities’ access to affordable insurance products • Recommend ways to modernize insurance regulations • However, the FIO will not monitor health, long-term care or crop insurance  Get a PDF version at: www.consumer-action.org/downloads/ alerts/fin_reform_facts.pdf

Insured deposits

Black Business Association

Upcoming Events and Other

YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNERS

CELEBRATING OVER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

Lending Pavilion Congresswoman Maxine Waters

Certification Workshop

and Co-Chaired by

in partnership with

Brotherhood Crusade

August 17, 2010 8:30am

Los Angeles Southwest College 1600 West Imperial Highway, Los Angeles, CA 90047-4899 Admission: Members $10 and non-Members $20

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR

TRAINING INSTITUTE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LA MBOC and sponsored by US Bank

7th Annual

Procurement Exchange Summit One-on-One Matchmaking Appointments

BEGINNING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 sponsored by

September 14 LAUSD Headquarters 333 South Beaudry Avenue Los Angeles, California 90017 8am – 11am

15th Annual Ron Brown Business & Economic Summit August 19-21, 2010 - Marriott Hotel, Manhattan Beach, California

West LA College 6:30-8:30pm

Every Wednesday for 12 weeks

Workshops and Awards Luncheon HONORING OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEURS IN RECOGNITION OF MED WEEK

Thursday, November 4, 2010 Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel

6101 W. Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Download the course syllabus at BBALA.org

916-463-0177 www.calbcc.org

Contact the BBA for more information on sponsorship or vendor participation, 323.291.9334 | mail@bbala.org | www.bbala.org

For listings of these and other community events, check out

.com

Minority Business Development Agency

Business Development News

ecently, MBDA and the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the number of minority-owned firms increased by 46 percent to 5.8 million between 2002 and 2007 according to data from the Preliminary Estimates of Business Ownership by Gender, Ethnicity, Race and Veteran Status: 2007, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 Survey of Business Owners. “It is encouraging that the minority business community is growing and making progress relative to all U.S. firms, but economic parity remains elusive,” says MBDA National Director David A. Hinson. “While the number of minority-owned businesses continues to grow, they are still smaller in size and scale compared to non-minorityowned firms.” Hinson is right. In 2007, average gross receipts for minority-owned firms increased to $179,000 from $167,000 in 2002 – still well below gross receipts for non-minority-owned firms, which had average gross receipts of $490,000. “We must continue to close this gap,” Hinson said. “It is unacceptable, particularly during an economic crisis that disproportionately affects the minority business community, to have this ongoing disparity.” And closing the gap is exactly what MBDA is focused on achieving. Over the last year, MBDA has been promoting a new model of growth for minority-owned firms, moving away from organic growth one contract at a time to growth through joint ventures, strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions. This model allows minorityowned firms to grow bigger and grow faster. But the economic impact of the minority business community doesn’t stop with gross receipts. Minorityowned firms also create jobs. Between

2002 and 2007, employment at minority-owned firms grew more than 26 percent compared to less than one percent for non-minority-owned firms over the same period. Investing in the minority business community is a long-term investment in lowering the unemployment rate in all of our communities. Over the next decade, it’s expected that minorities and women will fuel much of the job growth. And as the nation’s population demographics change, the data show that the United States business community has also changed. Specifically: Between 2002 and 2007, the number of minority firms grew by 46 percent, compared to 18 percent for all U.S. firms, and compared to 13.7 percent growth for the minority population age 18 and older, during the same period. Minority-owned firms employed approximately 5.9 million people in 2007, up from 4.6 million in 2002. Asian-owned firms grew 41 percent to 1.6 million from 2002. Asian-owned firms continue to generate the highest annual gross receipts at $510.1 billion in 2007, increasing 56 percent from 2002. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses totaled 2.3 million in 2007, up 44 percent from 2002. Receipts for Hispanic firms increased 55 percent to $343.3 billion. Black, or African-American-owned businesses grew to 1.9 million firms in 2007, up 61 percent from 2002 the largest increase among all minority-owned companies; and generated $135.6 billion in gross receipts, up 53 percent from 2002. There were 237,203 American Indian and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2007, up 18 percent from 2002, generating $34.2 billion in gross receipts, an increase of 27 percent.

Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses totaled 38,854 in 2007, up 34 percent from 2002. While these firms’ reported the largest increase in receipts among all minority-owned firms in 2002 (63 percent), the total amount reached only $7 billion. “The data on minority business growth clearly shows that minorityowned firms are a significant contributor to the long term health of the United States economy,” Hinson said. “We must aggressively grow minorityowned firms and assist them in contributing to President Obama’s goal of doubling exports over the next five years.” The Obama Administration established the National Export Initiative earlier this year to support export and domestic jobs – an Administration initiative MBDA has been supporting through new programs, including the recently launched Global Construction Program. Additionally, the Administration established the Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses. With MBDA’s input, this task force will make recommendations to the President on how to increase government contracting opportunities for small and minorityowned businesses. Minority-owned firms help fuel the engine that drives our economy and job creation. Success of the minority business community leads to the creation of more jobs, an expanded tax base, community benefits and global competitiveness. Their success will ultimately help drive the success and recovery of the American economy. 

10  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Support for Historically Black Colleges and Small Agricultural Producers Support Will Promote Economic Development, Training for Entrepreneurship and Business Growth

griculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced support for economic development initiatives and for educational institutions to help owners of small farms and rural businesses in 22 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The secretary announced the funding at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. “USDA and the Obama administration are committed to supporting small business and our nation’s historically black educational institutions to ensure that all citizens have equal access to economic opportunities,” Vilsack said. “This funding will help create the next generation of entrepreneurs and help small businesses better compete in today’s global economy.” These awards are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Small and Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program and through a Rural Entrepreneurship Outreach and Development Initiative. Both programs support job creation efforts, business development and nurture cooperatives. Recipients of the outreach initiative funding are among the 18 institutions supported under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, a law providing for the establishment of land-grant institutions focusing on agriculture, home economics and the mechanic arts. For example, Alabama A&M University has been selected to receive a $95,000 grant to provide outreach and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs, businesses and cooperatives. The university will develop educational materials concerning renewable energy sources, continue a rural entrepreneurial outreach and development program for youth, develop financial management training, and provide technical assistance to rural business

cooperatives. In Georgia, Fort Valley State University has been selected for a $105,000 grant to help rural businesses develop business and marketing plans that will help them more fully utilize sources of funding such as USDA Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program. The grant also will help Fort Valley continue to operate the area’s only small business incubator. The Rio Culebra Agricultural Cooperative in Colorado is using a $175,000 Small and Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant that it was awarded in 2009 to help develop a business and marketing plan that will enable members to provide beef products in metropolitan areas. The cooperative also is helping producers sell specialty crops for Chicos and Bolita Beans. Additionally, it is working on a feasibility study for small-scale camelina production for a specialty cooking oil and use in a local biodiesel plant. Funding of recipients announced today is contingent upon their meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. The following is a complete list of organizations receiving USDA Rural Development awards: 1890 Land-Grant Institutions Rural Entrepreneurship Outreach and Development Initiative Grants Alabama: Alabama A&M University – $95,000 Tuskegee University – $100,000 Arkansas: University of Arkansas Pine Bluff – $105,000 Delaware: Delaware State University – $115,000 Florida: Florida A&M University – $105,000

Georgia: Fort Valley State University – $105,000 Louisiana: Southern University and A&M College – $115,000 Maryland: University of Maryland Eastern Shore – $100,000 Mississippi: Alcorn State University – $100,000 North Carolina: North Carolina A&T State University – $100,000 Oklahoma: Langston University – $104,000 South Carolina: South Carolina State University – $100,000 Texas: Prairie View A&M University – $70,035 West Virginia: West Virginia State University – $100,000 Virginia: Virginia State University – $80,965 Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grants Colorado Arkansas Valley Organic Growers – $93,000 Rio Culebra Agricultural Cooperative – $186,000 Hawaii Hawaii Bio-Energy Producers Cooperative – $114,715 Louisiana Louisiana Association of Cooperatives – $200,000 Michigan Farmers on the Move Cooperative Inc. – $200,000

11  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see USDA Grants on page 21

Company Profile:

Business Development:

Peoples Choice Secretary of Energy Advisory Staffing, Inc. Board Revived Eliminated by the previous adminEscapes the istration, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) will soon reRecession emerge. The U.S. Department of En-

n light of the economic downfall, Peoples Choice Staffing, Inc. has continually exceeded projected sales goals on an average of 30-40% annually and is in process of moving toward national expansion. The growth pattern for 2010, Peoples Choice Staffing, Inc. appears to be on target as YTD revenues are trending toward tripling that of 2009. In addition, PCS opened a second company that serves as a Managed Service Provider, Choice Workforce Solutions, LLC that is estimated to produce an additional $70 million in revenue on an annual basis.

“There might be a recession, but we refuse to participate,” says Denise Peoples, President and CEO of Peoples Choice Staffing, Inc. “We wouldn’t allow our employees to buy into a recession mentality; we just knew we had to work three times harder and smarter.” PCS Chairman & COO Wendell Peoples continues, “Our management and employees are collectively committed to represent this company brand in everything we do”. Peoples Choice Staffing focuses on developing mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with handpicked companies that drive results and heighten client interest. Previously this strategy was focused on accommodating clients

ergy announced recently plans to reestablished SEAB under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Serving as an independent advisory committee to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the twelvemember board is comprised of scientists, business executives, academics and former government officials. A news release from DOE says the new SEAB “will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on the Department’s basic and applied research, economic and national security policy, educational issues, operational issues and other activities as directed by the Secretary.” The release also states meeting will be held at least twice a year or as needed. Subcommittees are also expected to form to assist with the work. Here are the new SEAB members and their affiliations:

The Honorable Alexis Hrman

Norman Augustine, former chair and CEO, Lockheed Martin; former Under Secretary for the Army Ralph Cicerone, president of National Academy of Sciences John Deutch, MIT chemist; former Under Secretary of Energy Nicholas Donofrio, former EVP of Innovation and Technology, IBM Alexis Herman, former Secretary of Labor

Chad Holliday Jr., former CEO of Dupont Michael McQuade, senior VP of United Technologies Corp. William Perry, former Secretary of Defense; Stanford University Professor Arthur Rosenfeld, former commissioner of California Energy Commission Susan Tierney, managing principle of Analysis Group Steven Westly, managing partner of Westly Group Daniel Yergin, president of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. 

just in Southern California but with current growth into five states and continued expansion moving across the United States, PCS in on the verge of providing client benefits on a national basis. Peoples Choice Staffing would not be here today without the mentoring, support and business partnerships of the Black Business Association, Southern California Edison, Wells Fargo,

Volt, Black Chamber of Commerce and organizations like NAWBO who continuously champion for women minority owned business enterprises. Denise Peoples, President and CEO of Peoples Choice Staffing, Inc., brings more than 22 years of knowledge and in-depth experience in the staffing industry, making her one of the leading experts in Human Capital Management.  http://peopleschoicestaffing.com

13  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

How to Help the Black Business Association BY CAPRICE L. COLLINS

There are many ways each of us can help the Black Business Association. However, some ways are better suited to certain donors while other methods make more sense for other donors. Following just a few of the many ways that you can use to help the Black Business Association thrive. +

Give cash outright to the Black Business Association. This is the easiest and most common method. However, for larger donations, this typically is not the best method for the donor.

Give appreciated property to the Black Business Association. If done properly, you get a deduction for the full fair market value of the property. If you were to sell the asset, normally you would pay 20% of the gain to the IRS. So, if you had an asset for which you paid $10 and you sold for $100, you would have a gain of $90 and pay $18 in tax. After sale and taxes, you would have $82. However, if you contribute the property to the Black Business Association, you get a charitable deduction for the full $100, even though you would have received only $82 after the sale and taxes. Essentially, you get a deduction for the gain on which you never paid taxes.

Set up a lifetime Charitable Remainder Trust with the Black Business Association as the remainder beneficiary. With a lifetime Charitable Remainder Trust you contribute property to a trust and you receive a fixed dollar amount or a fixed percentage of the value of the trust each year. At the end of your life, or at the end of a term up to 20 years, the property remaining goes to the Black Business Association. You get a current income tax deduction for the value of the interest that eventually goes to the Black Business Association. You can control how the assets of the trust are invested. This can be particularly important when the asset is stock in a family business.

Give a remainder interest in your home or business. You can give the Black Business Association the right to have your home or business after your death. You have full rights to live in the home or use the farm. The Black Business Association has no right to use the property until your death. You get a current income tax deduction for the value of the interest going to the Black Business Association. The value of the interest going to the Black Business Association is calculated by using your life expectancy at the time of the gift of the remainder interest.

YO U R L I N K TO A F R I CA N A M E R I CA N B U S I N ES S O W N E RS ~ C E L E B RAT I N G 4 0 Y EA RS O F S E RV I C E ~

Set up a Charitable Remainder Trust at your death with the Black Business Association as the remainder beneficiary. This is similar to a lifetime Charitable Remainder Trust. However, your children or other beneficiaries would receive the income stream and then the assets would go to charity after their deaths or the specified period of time. Your estate would receive an estate tax charitable deduction for the value of the interest that ultimately would pass to charity.

Set up a Charitable Lead Trust during your lifetime with The Black Business Association as the beneficiary. This is the reverse of the Charitable Remainder Trust. The Black Business Association gets the income stream during your life or the fixed period of time, and then at your death the remaining assets go to your children or other beneficiaries.

Set up a Charitable Lead Trust at your death with the Black Business Association as the beneficiary. Again, this is the reverse of the Charitable Remainder Trust. You would set up a trust that would be funded at your death. The Black Business Association would receive the income stream for a fixed period of time typically and then the remaining assets would go to your children or other designated beneficiaries. This is a way to reduce the estate tax on assets passing to your heirs.

Give of your time and expertise. This can be a great way to help in a very personal way. While it helps the Black Business Association, it also can provide you with a sense of accomplishment. However, you will not receive a tax deduction for this type of giving.

As you can see, there are a wide range of options. A qualified estate planning attorney can help you select the method which maximizes the income tax, estate tax, and personal advantages of the contribution to the Black Business Association.

Byline: Ms. Caprice L. Collins is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and has been engaged in the practice of law for the last 24 years. For more information or to attend an upcoming seminar, call (310) 677-9787 ext 5.

Finishing Haiti’s Unfinished Work By JEAN-MAX BELLERIVE and BILL CLINTON Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive of Haiti and Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, are co-chairs of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission.

IX months have passed since the earthquake that shook the coast of Haiti. But for the people who live there, today is just another day in the long process of rebuilding and reimagining their future amid a hurricane season that threatens to undo the progress they’ve made. As co-chairs of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission, we are well aware that the scale and urgency of needs on the ground continue to be enormous: millions of people still require shelter; access to basic services like education, water and sanitation, electricity and health care; and the tools to lift themselves from poverty. After the earthquake, Haiti’s president, René Préval, worked with the international community to create the reconstruction commission to accelerate rebuilding efforts. Our mandate is to coordinate the efforts of government

donors, nongovernmental organizations and the business sector to ensure that reconstruction projects are aligned with the priorities of Haiti’s development plan. It is also to see to it that the work takes place with the full transparency and accountability that Haiti’s leaders are committed to maintaining, and that donors have every right to expect. The commission is structured similarly to the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency, or B.R.R., which was set up in Indonesia after the 2004 South Asia tsunami. The B.R.R. is widely recognized as a success, and the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission is moving as quickly as the B.R.R. moved after the tsunami. It has done so despite the grim reality that the Haitian earthquake, unlike the tsunami, devastated the country’s government, killing 17 percent of its work force and destroying all but one

ministry building, along with its phones, vehicles, computers and other infrastructure. Haiti must deal with all this destruction as well as the pressing issues it faced before the earthquake. Still, has the reconstruction process been as quick and as far-reaching as many of us had hoped? No, not when so many Haitians remain homeless, hungry and unemployed. Has progress been made? Unequivocally, yes. But we must — all of us involved in Haiti’s recovery — do better. For example, to date, only 10 percent of the $5.3 billion pledged by governments at a United Nations conference in March has been disbursed to the Haitian government. Without reliable schedules for disbursement, the commission is unable to plan, finance projects or respond quickly to immediate needs.

17  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see Help For Haiti on page 23

ABOUT GOVLINK CONFERENCE:

PRE-CONFERENCE BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

• GOVLINK CONFERENCE provides networking opportunities between government agencies, prime contractors, and small businesses. • The speakers from government agencies will discuss business opportunities, vendor selection criteria, and provide valuable insights on what it takes to be successful and how to avoid common mistakes. • Federal, state, and local government agencies and major prime contractors will be exhibiting at the event to facilitate networking.

October 26, 2010 - 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. SESSION 1: Responding to an Invitation for Bid (IFB) SESSION 2: Tour the Defense Microelectronics Activity(DMEA) laboratory

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND: • Learn about federal, state, and local government and prime contractor business opportunties • Grow your business through networking with key government and prime contractor decision makers • Attend the “Responding to an Invitation for Bid (IFB)” or tour Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA), a high-tech applied engineering federal laboratory

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: • Small and large business owners / managers that are interested in contracting and subcontracting opportunities representing all industries • Representatives from 8a, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Businesses (SDVOSB and DVBE), and Woman Owned Businesses (WOB) • Federal, State, and Local Government and Prime Contractor representatives interested in expanding their Small Business, 8(a), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Business (SDVOSB and DVBE), and Woman Owned Business (WOB) participation

GOVERNMENT PURCHASING PANEL: Hear from government agency representatives who will discuss upcoming opportunities and how to do business with their agencies

PRIMES AND SUBCONTRACTORS PANEL: Learn what government prime contractors are looking for in subcontractors and how to be considered for subcontracting opportunities

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Pre-registration is required. Register now! • Attendee Early registration is $125 per person. $150 after September 10, 2010. (Includes kick-off reception hors d’oeuvres, continental breakfast, lunch, and conference materials.) Visit here to register as an attendee: www.theftc. org/news&events/upcomingevents/govlinkconference_2010/govlinkconference_registration_attendee. html. • Limited Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities available. Last year exhibit spaces sold out. Visit here to register and reserve your space now www.theftc. org/news&events/upcomingevents/govlinkconference_2010/govlinkconference_sponsorships.html.

www.theftc.org/news&events/upcomingevents/govlinkconference_2010/govlinkconference_home.htm.

20  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

USDA Grants from page 11

Mississippi Mileston Cooperative Association – $105,824 Mississippi Association of Cooperatives – $200,000 Winston County Self-Help Cooperative – $200,000 North Delta Produce Growers Association – $177,417 Minnesota Hillside Farmers Cooperative, Inc. – $113,865 New Mexico Red Willow Community Growers Cooperative – $182,500 New York North Country Grown Cooperative, Inc. – $62,175 Puerto Rico Cooperativa Agro-Comercial De Puerto Rico – $154,360 South Carolina People’s Farmers Cooperative, Inc. – $100,000

Farmers Low Country Marketing Cooperative – $64,500 Federation of Southern Cooperatives – $146,595 Pee Dee Small Farmer Association Inc. – $34,500 SCF Organic Farms LTD – $100,000 South Dakota Intertribal Buffalo Council – $175,000 Washington Manzaneros Mexicanos De Washington Corporation – $150,000 Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and

manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation’s capital and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $142 billion in loans and loan guarantees.  www.usda.gov

www.healthcare.gov

21  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Artwear Artwear may be found at: Sika’s / 4330 Degnan Ave., Leimert Park Baldwin Hills Plaza Farmer’s Market each Saturday 10am-3pm

www.gbabyartwear.com

Rooibos Tea House African Red Tea Imports

323-658-7832

533 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles

www.africanredtea.com Nira Levy Maslin, CEO

Pan African Film & Arts Festival Presents: The Fall Art Market Entertainment Ȋ Artist’s Booths Ȋ Concessions Ȋ Children’s Corner

September 25th-26th Ȋ Saturday & Sunday Ȋ 10 am-7 pm Ȋ Grevillea Art Park, Inglewood, CA To participate as a vendor, volunteer, donor or sponsor contact: PAFF Ȋ 6820 La Tijera Blvd. Ȋ Suite 200 Ȋ Los Angeles, CA 90045 Ȋ www.paff.org Ȋ paffartmart@gmail.com

614 W. 7th Street (between Grand and Olive) L.A. 90014 • 213 612-0107 View our full menu at Sandellasdowntown.com.

Help For Haiti from page 17

Haiti’s government has done everything it’s been asked to do by international donors to inspire confidence, maintain transparency and ensure that not one single cent is lost to corruption. We cannot turn our backs on Haiti’s government and its people when the time comes to write the check. In addition to these disbursements, we need the partnership and cooperation of the World Bank. As the steward of the multi-donor trust fund, the World Bank has a responsibility to ensure that money pledged by governments and their taxpayers around the world is delivered quickly to the Haitian government or to projects approved by the reconstruction commission. We hope the World Bank will work with us to make this happen, by streamlining the process for releasing money and preventing reconstruction funds from being diverted to redundant technical reviews. We have no time to waste: hurricane season has already begun, and Haiti has been lucky to have avoided another natural disaster thus far. With this in mind, on June 17 our board — balanced equally between Haitians and international representatives — approved $31 million in projects that will help bridge the Haitian government’s budget shortfall and provide shelters from hurricanes. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects are in the pipeline. For the overall effort to succeed, however, we need the participation of everyone involved: nongovernmental organizations must submit their projects to the commission for approval, as most have agreed to do; businesses and government ministries should notify the commission of their programs, as most have agreed to do; and donors should honor their pledges. For those governments, donors and businesses that have not yet committed to investing in Haiti’s economy or aiding relief and reconstruction efforts, we urge them to do so quickly. In addition to short-term needs like rubble removal, there are ample opportunities

Interim Haiti Recovery Commission

Haiti Recovery Plan The priorities of the recovery plans seek to respond to the urgent situation facing Haiti, with support from the international community we seek to provide help immediately, to relaunch economic, governmental, and social activity, and to put Haiti back on the road to development. Download Haiti Action Plan www.cirh.ht/resources/Haiti_Action_Plan.pdf Download Haiti Private Sector Plan www.cirh.ht/resources/Private_Sector_Plan.pdf Post Disaster Needs Assessment www.cirh.ht/resources/PDNA.pdf for investments with longer-term dividends — in agriculture, construction, tourism, manufacturing, service industries and clean energy, especially solar. No matter how people choose to help, the most important thing is that we work in alignment with the priorities of Haiti’s development plan, with a sense of urgency, and in partnership with one another in the service of the people of Haiti. (The effort can be followed at www.cirh.ht, a new Web site providing transparency for the reconstruction process.)

Ultimately, we will measure the success of reconstruction efforts not in the number of days that have passed since the earthquake, nor in the dollar amounts pledged, but in tangible results that improve the lives of the Haitian people, so that in the next six months, and in the six months after that, they will be closer to the future they envision for themselves, their children and generations to come. 

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers

23  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

www.haitispecialenvoy.org www.cirh.ht

Soul D’Licious

ww.bbala.org •Contracting Information •Employment Opportunities •Links to Sponsor Websites •Event Announcements •Resources:

• President’s Message • Financial Management • Meeting Management • International News • BBA Publications • Other Information

Southern Cooking with a Creole Twist

Chef D’

Executive Chef/Owner 562-326-6863 • Chefsouldlicious@yahoo.com www.souldlicious.net

A taste that will have your Soul begging for more. 

Catering to your Soul... Corporate Events • VIP Presentations Movie/Video Sets • Wedding/Baby Showers Special Events • Private Chef Banquets Full Service Catering & Seasons Company, We Come to You…

TOWN HALL Los Angeles is pleased to present

The Honorable Condoleeza Rice Monday, October 25, 2010 • The Millennium Biltmore Hotel • Los Angeles, California in discussion of her new book, “Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family”.

Dr. Rice is the first African American woman to serve as United States Secretary of State and first woman to serve as National Security Advisor. Dr. Rice will be joined in conversation with Constance L. Rice, Co-Director of the Advancement Project. Constance Rice is a noted civil rights lawyer, policy advocate, and expert in police reform. Both accomplished women are cousins and it will be a unique opportunity for interviewer and interviewee to discuss the topic of the book. This will be the only such pairing on the book tour. Program Details 10:45 AM Book Sales Begin 11:00 AM Book Signing and Reception 12:00 PM Luncheon 12:30 PM Conversation with Audience Q&A 1:30 PM Book Signing Resumes For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://www.townhall-la.org and click on “Register Now” or call TOWN HALL Los Angeles at (213) 312-9308. We look forward to seeing you! DeeDee Hopkins, Administrative Coordinator TOWN HALL Los Angeles dhopkins@townhall-la.org Direct: 213.312.9308 Phone: 213.628.8141

September Action Items: “International Eat an Apple Day” is September 18. An apple a day keeps the doctor away...They are low in claories and high in disease-fighting antioxidants. For the greatest benefit, eat them unpeeled. Library of Congress National Book Festival is September 25. Author interviews will be available on-line for people who can’t make it to Washington, DC. Go to www.LOClgov/bookfest.

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers

Men’s Warehouse is sponsoring a September Suit Drive. Take suits, sport coats, ties and other gently used men’s professional clothing, on hangers, to any Men’s Wearhouse store and receive a 25%-off coupon.

26  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Financial Services:

HUD Secretary Announces National First Look Program to Help Communities Stablize Neighborhoods Hard-Hit by Foreclosure Nation’s top lenders agree to give NSP grantees first crack at buying foreclosed homes

.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced an unprecedented agreement with the nation’s top mortgage lenders to offer selected state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations a “first look” or right of first refusal to purchase foreclosed homes before making these properties available to private investors. The National First Look Program is a first-ever public-private partnership agreement between HUD and the National Community Stabilization Trust (Stabilization Trust). In collaboration with national servicers, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, the First Look pro-

gram is intended to give communities participating in HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) a brief exclusive opportunity to purchase bankowned properties in certain neighborhoods so these homes can either be rehabilitated, rented, resold or demolished. “This groundbreaking agreement will help rebuild neighborhoods that have been struggling with blight and declining home values due to foreclosures,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Local communities will now get an exclusive option to buy foreclosed properties in targeted neighborhoods so they can turn the homes into

Federal Government Programs - Here To Help www.makinghomeaffordable.gov The Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable Program includes opportunities to modify or refinance your mortgage to make your monthly payments more affordable. It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for homeowners who are interested in a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

affordable housing or, in some cases, tear them down. This agreement helps us level the playing field to give communities a better chance to stabilize these neighborhoods.” “The Stabilization Trust is delighted to be working with HUD Secretary Donovan on the National First Look Program,” said Craig Nickerson, President of the NCST. “By serving as the operations ‘engine’ behind the First Look Program, the Stabilization Trust can facilitate the transfer of more foreclosed property for participating financial institutions to local community buyers, thereby accelerating the road to neighborhood recovery.” HUD’s NSP grantees, which include state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, often find themselves competing with private investors for real estate-owned (REO) properties, which can hinder their efforts to stabilize neighborhoods with high foreclosure activity. With today’s announcement, HUD and the Stabilization Trust, working with national servicers, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, will standardize the acquisition process for NSP grantees, giving them an exclusive option to purchase foreclosed upon homes in certain targeted neighborhoods. The Stabilization Trust pioneered the ‘First Look’ model to create a transparent and streamlined process to facilitate the transfer of foreclosed and abandoned properties from key financial institutions to local government housing providers. First piloted in 2008, see First Look on page 31

27  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR

TRAINING INSTITUTE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BEGINNING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 West LA College 6:30-8:30pm Every Wednesday for 12 weeks

The Black Business Association (BBA), in partnership with the Business Division of West Los Angeles College, has launched the Business Entrepreneur Training Institute (BETI), a 12-week training program that will teach new and veteran entrepreneurs the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nuts & boltsâ&#x20AC;? of operating a highly successful business.

Register Today! + Only serious entrepreneurs that want to start a business should participate. Each attendee will be expected meet a tangible goal and have results at the end of the training program.

+ Attendees will receive a certificate of completion as well as everything they need to know to start and run a successful business.

+ Attendees will also leave with a business plan. + Training cost is $75 (includes one annual membership to the BBA)

Applications are available online at: www.bbala.org or by calling the BBA office at: 323.291.9334

sponsored by

Community Service:

Mayme Clayton Library & Museum Now Part of the Community Programs at Ralphs.com Help MCLM raise funds simply by doing your regular grocery shopping at Ralph’s.

o help raise funds for MCLM, register online at www.ralphs. com and be sure to have your Ralphs REWARDS card handy. Either open a new account or add MCLM to your existing Ralph’s My Account Community Contribution information. To add MCLM to your profile: • Click on My Account and use your e-mail address and password to proceed to the next step.

•

Click on Edit Community Contribution information and type the NPO number for Mayme Clayton 92320, click search, select your organization and save changes. • Now, view your profile including your organization participation. Remember, swipe a registered Ralphs REWARDS card or use the phone number that is related to a registered Ralphs REWARDS card when shopping, and each purchase will count toward a generous donation to the Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum.  www.claytonmuseum.org

KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION EDUCATION VENTURES PROGRAM

auffman Labs is seeking innovators of the top twenty entrepreneurial concepts for the education market. The candidate pool is as vast as the education industry itself, but the selection process will be competitive and open only to those education business concepts that show promise to be high-growth, scalable, and sustainable. Eligible candidates will be at least eighteen years old, be U.S. citizens or in the U.S. legally, and commit up to six months of full-time study, training, and business development to the program. Deadline for submitting application is September 20, 2010. For more information, please go to www.kauffman.org or go directly to http://sites.kauffman.org/labsapp/index.cfm for an application. 

What’s In It For Me? •Local, National & International News

•Government & Corporate Contracting and Supplier Opportunity Information •Links to Corporate Partner, Organization Affiliates & Annual Event Sponsor Websites •BBA Annual & Special Event Announcements •Business Operation Education and Information 

Where Do I Find It? •BBA website

www.bbala.org •Black Business News monthly publication •Black Business News/ International - quarterly publication •Black Business News Internet Edition 

How Do I Participate & Benefit? •Join the BBA at

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers

www.bbala.org •Advertise in the BBA publications •Attend BBA Events Hosted to Benefit the African American Community of Businesses

29  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

WHY ARE MORE BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES USING SLATON INSURANCE GROUP? BECAUSE THEY DELIVER! Insurance Management Services As a client of Slaton Insurance Group you’ve already made the decision to work with proven resources to help your business manage its risk exposure and to stay within compliance. The independent insurance agents of the Slaton Group will help you manage risk and reduce loss while maintaining adherence to your insurance budget. We are an integrated, single source provider for your insurance needs.

STEVEN D. TURNER Slaton Group License #0G12789 Financial Advisory / Insurance Services 16161 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 382 Encino, California 91436 Telephone: 818-585-1374 E-mail: sturner@slatongroup.com Website: www.slatongroup.com

Insurance Coverage for Clients •

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) - Property & General Liability Coverage in one Policy form, generally for small and midsized practices. The package includes coverage for business interruption, valuable papers, accounts receivables, employee dishonesty and numerous other pertinent coverages.

•

Commercial Package Policy (CPP) - Generally for larger practices/facilities; incorporates several policy forms including but not limited to general liability, property, automobile and crime policies.

•

Professional Liability - Provides protection for rendering professional services; may apply to both individual professionals and/or businesses.

•

Commercial Umbrella - An additional layer of liability protection that applies across policies to give you increased coverage limits.

•

Inland Marine - Coverage for specialized, valuable equipment or equipment that is mobile.

•

Commercial Auto Insurance - Protection for your owned, borrowed, or rental autos.

•

Worker’s Compensation - Social insurance program designed to resolve disputes between injured employees and their employers.

•

Directors & Officers

•

Employment Practices Liability

Health Care Industry: Steven Turner and his team provide solutions across the continuum of care in medical facilities coverage, ranging from small clinics to specialized facilities and hospitals. As the environment evolves in the medical services industry, Slaton Insurance Group is ready to assist you in managing risk. Private Client Services: You’ve worked hard to provide a comfortable living for yourself and your family - we work hard to protect it. We work with you to help find personal insurance solutions that provide you the protection you need. Some of the coverage, we offer through our Private Client Services are Home insurance, Auto coverage, Board insurance, Umbrella policies, and many more converges to meet your needs.

Slaton Group is an independent insurance agency dedicated to providing quality commercial and personal insurance programs. Since we are not limited to any one company, we can shop the marketplace to give you the best protection at the most competitive price.

First Look from page 27

the model has gained recognition as a critical tool for positively tipping the scale in neighborhoods hard hit by foreclosures. NSP grantees will also be aided by REOMatch™, a web-based mapping and acquisition management tool developed by the Stabilization Trust. REOMatch will assist NSP grantees easily identify REO properties and make more strategic decisions about which properties to acquire, based on real-time data on an interactive mapping platform. The nation’s leading financial institutions are participating in the National

First Look Program, representing approximately 75 percent of the REO marketplace. Participating institutions include: Bank of America, Chase, Citi, Deutsche Bank, GMAC, Nationstar Mortgage, Ocwen Financial Corporation, Saxon Mortgage Services, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The National First Look Program will allow NSP grantees the exclusive opportunity to purchase available REO properties located within the defined boundaries of NSP target areas. NSP

grantees will be immediately notified when a property becomes available and will have 24-48 hours to express interest in pursuing a specific property. Furthermore, these institutions will provide NSP purchasers with the opportunity to purchase REO properties at a discount their appraised value, reflecting the cost savings of a quick sale. NSP grantees may acquire these properties with the assistance of NSP funds for any eligible use. After expressing interest in a property, the First Look Period will last approximately five to 12 business days during which the NSP Grantee will conduct inspections and establish costs to repair in anticipation of the financial

institution’s price offer. In the event that no NSP grantee exercises its preference to purchase an REO property during the First Look period, the financial institution will follow its normal process to sell the home on the open market.

Currently, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers a complementary pilot program in which NSP grantees receive an exclusive option to purchase so-called ‘HUD Homes’ at a discount prior to those homes being made available to the investor community. The FHA pilot, alongside today’s agreement expands the opportunity for NSP grantees to gain access to REO properties through a national first-look standard option. HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program was created to address the housing crisis, create jobs, and grow local economies by providing communities with the resources to purchase and rehabilitate vacant homes. NSP grants are helping state and local governments, as well as non-profit developers, acquire land and property; demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to middle-income homebuyers. Grantees can also stabilize neighborhoods by creating “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of foreclosed homes. To date, HUD has allocated nearly $6 billion in funding to state and local governments and non-profit housing developments. In the coming weeks, HUD will allocate an additional $1 billion in NSP funding, which was provided through the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  www.hud.gov www.stabilizationtrust.com

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers

31  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Presidential Active Lifestyle Award & Challenge

Co-Chair Dominique Dawes and Executive Director Shellie Pfohl

Presidential Active Lifestyle Award

e are proud to announce the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge! The good news is: winning an award isn’t hard. You don’t have to be able to do a back flip like Dominique Dawes or a triple axel like Michelle Kwan. You don’t have to dunk a basketball like Grant Hill. To earn this award, you need to get out and move for an hour a day if you’re a kid, and for a half an hour if you’re an adult, five days a week for six weeks. It’s as easy as going outside and taking a walk. Or you could take the stairs instead of the elevator, or plant your own vegetable garden like the First Lady. That takes care of exercise and a healthy diet at the same time. Then, when you’ve completed an activity, simply log on the President’s Council website, www.PresidentsChallenge.org, and let us know.

We’re asking every American—from kids in school to their grandparents—to make a personal commitment and challenge themselves to sign up for, and win, a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Our goal is to get one million Americans winning an award – and you can help us get there. There are more than 300 million people living in this great country. And we want every single one of them to live a healthy lifestyle. Having one million Americans win a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award by next September 14 will be a big step in the right direction.

President’s Challenge Recently the first meeting of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports &

Nutrition was held and it went great! We finally had an opportunity to come together and share our goals and visions for the Council with our Executive Director Shellie Pfohl. Co-Chair Dominique Dawes and Executive Director Shellie Pfohl at the first meeting of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition on September 14th, 2010 in Washington, DC. I can tell the Council is already off to a great start and we’re just beginning. During our public meeting we had an opportunity to hear from a variety of partners about their programs and concerns surrounding the childhood obesity epidemic, which is why the announcement of the Million PALA Challenge by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to have 1 million Americans achieve the President’s Active Lifestyle Award was perfectly timed. As First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign has see Let’s Move on page 34

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Today, about one of three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects. Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression. Spend some time this month educating your kids about healthy food choices for a better life. For more information go to www. heart.org and www.letsmove.org.

33  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Let’s Move from page 33

shown the nation, we are at a crossroads that requires our entire country to mobilize and re-incorporate physical activity and proper nutrition back into our everyday lives. I’m looking forward to answering the challenge and working with the new Executive Director of Let’s Move!, Robin Schepper, to reach the goal. Co-Chair Dominique Dawes participates in physical activities with students from the Cleveland Elementary School and KEEN Greater DC following the first meeting of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition on September 14th, 2010 in Washington, DC. Wrapping up the day with the students of Cleveland Elementary School and KEEN Greater DC was the highlight of the day. As a Council we can discuss our strategy for becoming one

fit nation, but it takes the commitment of the public to make it happen. Truly, there is no better way to ensure lifelong habits including physical activity and good nutrition than teaching children how to make the right decisions. And of course having lots of fun in the process! When you get to play sugary food freeze tag, toss healthy snack beanbags, and fuel up on fruit how can’t you have a good time? I hope that you seek out creative opportunities to get physically active. To start, you can get great recommendations on www.LetsMove.gov, and then follow-up with more activities on www. PresidentsChallenge.org. While you’re

there stay motivated and rise to the President’s Challenge by signing up to complete the six week Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. I’ve already registered, so what are you waiting for? I guarantee that you’ll feel like 1 in a million!

Start the PALA today: Commit to daily physical activity— and stick with it. Set realistic goals to encourage fitness for a lifetime. Track your progress with the free personal activity log, which you can access online after you register here, or use a paper log (PDF). 

Quote of Note... “But the most important thing we can do right now is to grow our economy. That’s the single most important thing that we can do. And some of the measures that we’ve put forward and I’m going to be fighting for are designed to exactly do that.”

and

Comedy Night President Barack H.Obama

Join the Fun! Share the Laughs!

34  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Technology:

Take a Look! by LaSandra Stratton Check out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.

www.istart.org The iStart Web site is the leading online community for business plan competitions. The goal is for iStart to become the go-to site for entering business plan competitions from around the world, browsing pages of plan abstracts and networking with hundreds of innovative, energize entrepreneurs. The iStart Web site is: •A catalyst for new businesses. We are dedicated to increasing the number of new firms formed – that’s our big idea. •Accessible. Thirty days after a competition ends, applicant teams can make their plan abstracts – and their companies – searchable to anyone on iStart. If you want your big idea to get noticed, this is the place. •Easy to use. Whether you are a competition administrator, a judge or an applicant, iStart helps you work at maximum efficiency and speed. •Standardized. We offer one simple platform for everything you need – from the call for entries to the final judging round. More functionality. Less time. Sweet!

www.pandigital.net Pandigital Novel 7” Color Multimedia eReaders feature a full color, touch screen display, instant access to the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, and brings dynamic multimedia to the eReader for an incredible reading experience. Carry 100s of eBooks, magazines

and newspapers in a single easy-touse device. Built in WiFi connectivity for easy download of eBooks, web content and more. Intuitive Android based interface. Storage is expandable - up to 32GB on SD/MMC. Up to 6 hours of reading on a single charge.

www.globalentry.gov Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Though

intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the program. Participants may enter the United States by using automated kiosks located at select airports. At airports, program participants proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card, place their fingertips on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and make a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment.

www.classmatepc.com At the heart of the Intel Learning Series are Intel-powered Classmate

PCs - rugged, affordable, studentfriendly netbooks with full PC functionality. They provide engaging, interactive ways for students to absorb information and create content. And they give teachers the tools to individualize instruction and foster problembased learning. This handy netbook is designed with students in mind. Features include: attached handle, touch screen, handwriting recognition, palm-resistive technology, tethered stylus, builtin software and security for children and students and the ability to swivel the screen around and fold it down to operate in tablet mode. The Intel Learning Series is a collection of hardware, software, content, infrastructure, training all purpose built for education. These products are made to work with each other and are designed to enable others to easily implement and manage 1:1 eLearning environments. Intel brings together an education ecosystem to provide a complete offering, working with a wide network of vendors to develop and deliver technologies that support and optimize Intel-powered classmate PCs. Find more information and listings of providers of this system around the world at the website.  Submitted by LaSandra Stratton BBA member, Chair of the BBA International Trade Committee.

35  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

SILICON VALLEY TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND AFRICA AT The AFRICAN NETWORK’S 5th ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 30, 2010 IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA “The Future is Entrepreneurship — The Future is Africa” is the theme of TANCon 2010 featuring investment experts from Ernst and Young, International and African entrepreneurs doing business in Africa. Silicon Valley is bracing itself for the 5th Annual conference hosted by The African Network (TAN) that promotes technology and entrepreneurship among Africans and American entrepreneurs doing business in Africa. The one day conference will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Santa Clara California. Leading African investment expert Zemedeneh Negatu from Eastern Africa’s Ernest and Young LLP, founder and CEO of software firm Appfrica Lab and a serial entrepreneur, Jonathan Gosier, social entrepreneur Julia Wilson of Wilson Global Communications USA who founded her marketing communications firm in South Africa during Nelson Mandela’s presidency and several specialized discussion panels will be on hand to share information, expertise, experiences and international opportunities with attendees. “Silicon Valley entrepreneurs paved the way for today’s multinational corporations such as Cisco Systems, Google, Intel, Apple and many others that changed the world. As a Silicon

Valley non—profit organization The African Network has been organizing TANCon to promote technology and entrepreneurship in Africa and also introduce international entrepreneurs to African markets ensuring that both international and African entrepreneurs have equal access to global markets.“ said Biniam Woldemariam, Chairman TANCon USA 2010. “Africa is open for business!” Specialized panel discussions will focus on arming attendees with information on renewable energy, mobile banking and financial services, financing and funding options for entrepreneurs, “low—tech“ business opportunities and talent development and acquisition in Africa. Hundreds of attendees are expected to participate in The African Network’s 5th Anniversary conference, including business professionals, successful and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as exceptional students and academician from nearby academic institutions such as Stanford University, Santa Clara University and the University of California at Berkeley.

Panelists/Keynoters Zemedeneh Negatu Managing Partner Ethiopia & Head Transaction Advisory Services (Corporate Finance) Eastern Africa, Ernst & Young LLP Julia A. Wilson Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Global Communications USA Benjamin Lyon Executive Director, FrontlineSMS:Credit

Gary Zieff Chief Operating Officer, dissigno LLC and Executive Director of dissigno Tanzania Ltd. Nam Mokwunye, MBA, MFA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer PublicVine, Visiting Scholar, Technology Transfer and Triple-Helix Innovation Center for African Studies, Stanford University Gerald Prolman Chief Executive Officer, Wildlife Works Retail Inc.

Jonathan Gosier Chief Executive Officer, Appfrica Labs Joseph Nganga Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Energy Ventures (K) Ltd., Clean, Smart, Efficient and Affordable Energy Menekse Gencer Founder, mPay Connect, Consulting Services

Femi Akinde Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SlimTrader

About The African Network (TAN) Founded in 2004, The African Network (TAN) is one of the fastest growing nonprofit organizations in the USA dedicated to exclusively assist Ameri-

36  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Kauffman Foundation to Accept Proposals for Entrepreneurship Dissertation Fellowship Grants Program will award grants of $20,000 each to 15 doctoral scholars The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced today that the 2010-2011 Kauffman Dissertation Fellowship Program’s online Request for Proposals is available now through Sept. 15, 2010. The Kauffman Foundation will award up to 15 Dissertation Fellowship grants of $20,000 each to Ph.D., D.B.A. or other doctoral students for the support of dissertations in the area of entrepreneurship. “Since its establishment in 2003, the Kauffman Dissertation Fellowship Program has awarded fellowships to 108 world-class scholars,” said Robert J. Strom, Ph.D., director of Research & Policy at the Foundation. “The study of entrepreneurship has immediate applications for policymakers, educators, service providers and entrepreneurs, and we look forward to the 2010-2011 Fellows’ contributions to this exciting field.” This competitive program is open to students seeking doctoral degrees from accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. This program is intended for students who are in the process of formulating their dissertation proposals as well as doctoral candidates with recently approved dissertation proposals. It is expected that applicants will complete their dissertations by the conclusion of the 2011-2012 academic year. Graduate students interested in applying for the Kauffman Dissertation Fellowship Program can find the Request for Proposals online at www.kauffman.org/kdfp/. All proposals must be submitted via the online application by 7 p.m. Central on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. Please direct all questions to kdfp@kauffman.org. Recipients may use the grant to pay for costs associated with their dissertation, including data collection and analysis, databases, specialized hardware/software and travel. Contact: Lacey Graverson, 816-932-1116, lgraverson@kauffman.org, Kauffman Foundation can entrepreneurs to link with African business people and the African Diaspora. TAN’s goals include building successful business enterprises across a variety of technology driven industry platforms through education, networking, and mentoring. TAN also provides business professionals with employment opportunities throughout the African continent with a primary mission to create a vital ecosystem for American entrepreneurs to excel and succeed in science and technology investment partnerships in one of the world’s fastest emerging markets — Africa. 

Contact Selma Taylor, Executive Director, 510.267.8994 luncheon@caratnet.org

37  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Buiness Tools:

New Facebook Advertising Tools Can Maximize Social Marketing Success You’re a small startup. You need to grow your business and expand your customer base quickly without spending a lot of money. Online marketing is definitely a great way to go, but the tried and true methods – display or search ads – vary greatly in cost, management time, targeting capabilities and results. Another obvious target for online marketing is social media sites such as Facebook. With more than 500 million active users, Facebook can be a potential goldmine for small businesses to reach new customers. On any given day, more than half of its users log on to interact with friends, play games and post content, which translates into more than 8.3 billion hours a month spent on the social network. This article is not going to focus on Facebook 101 – that is, setting up a static page, building up your friends list, posting content and blasting out information and offers to your followers. These can be effective, but they really only target people you know or who know you, and maybe a small percentage of people beyond your immediate circle.

In order to reach a broader audience, you should seriously consider advertising on Facebook. Recent improvements in Facebook’s advertising platform have made it more powerful than before and even easier to use – all the while giving you greater control over

audience targeting and ad spend. Facebook has great targeting capabilities and allows advertisers to reach people based on gender, geography, marital status, time of day, education and basic profile information. However, the secret sauce behind Facebook’s ad platform is a “Suggestion Tool” that allows advertisers to reach people based on other interests and information that its members share. It works by analyzing and cataloging mountains of data generated by the entire Facebook community, giving you superior targeting power and the ability to drill down deep. It also blows the doors off Facebook’s previous attempts at targeting (e.g., generic filters such as “18 to 24 males”), which could quickly burn through your budget and not deliver the audience you need.

How Do I Begin? First you have to ask yourself – who is my audience? What types of people am I trying to reach, and who would be most interested in my business? Targeting and timing are critical for success, and that’s where the Suggestion Tool excels. For instance, a good friend recently started a personal chef business on the side, targeting busy working families in Silicon Valley. For $50 plus the cost of groceries, she would prepare and serve a gourmet meal at the client’s house. Initially, she started with a simple Facebook page and began reaching out to her friends, acquaintances and former colleagues. However, she soon realized that she

needed a little more reach and started advertising. Using Facebook’s Suggestion Tool, she targeted married, careeroriented women ages 35 and up who lived in more affluent areas of Silicon Valley. She timed her ads to appear in the mid- to late-afternoon, when these women began thinking about dinner plans for the family. On the very first day her ads ran, she acquired two new customers and eventually she quit her day job to pursue her newfound career full-time. Creating And Managing Your Ads As a small business, chances are you and your employees have your noses to the grindstone 24/7, and are wearing multiple hats – none of which say “Official Facebook Advertising Campaign Manager.” Fortunately, Facebook makes it easy to manage your ad campaign. With a self-managed interface, Facebook provides tools that let you set daily spend budgets, analyze how your ads are performing, and manage the frequency of your ads so you can stick to your budget. The key to successful Facebook advertising is having compelling images and copy that attract the user’s eye– after all, what good is having pinpoint audience targeting if your ads are mediocre? Because images account for 50% of the real estate, it’s crucial to draw the user’s eye to your ad and get them to click. Refreshing your real estate (e.g., rotating your images) will increase your chances that a given image will resonate with the people you’re targeting. Depending on how many ads you run, Facebook offers a bulk image uploader so that you can refresh your images to

39  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see Facebook on page 62

The California Institute of Health & Social Services, Inc. (CIHSS) Avanti Health Systems, LLC. & The Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally, Honorary Chairperson

Invite you to attend the

Annual Champions for Healthy Families Luncheon

Honoring Joel Freedman, Principal, Avanti Health Systems, LLC.

Leadership Award Keynote Address “Healthcare Reform - New Pathways for Quality Healthcare Delivery” James Rodriguez, MSW President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America, Inc.

Pioneer Award Castulo de la Rocha, J.D. President & Chief Executive Officer , AltaMed Health Services, Corporation

Community Service Award Mistress of Ceremonies, Sherri Franklin, Principal, Urban Design Center Entertainment By Jackie Gouche Saturday, September 25, 2010 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Business Attire Only (Men must wear jacket & tie)

The California Club 538 South Flower Street Los Angeles, California 90071

Individual Tickets: $100 Table for Ten: $1000 (Includes Parking)

40  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

www.faceofopportunity.com British Airways is happy to announce the launch of our 2010 Face of Opportunity Contest. We’ll be giving a free flight to hundreds of companies with up to 250 employees plus hosting exclusive conferences and networking events in New York and London led by business pioneers and celebrity speakers. Last year British Airways helped over 600 growing businesses by giving them free flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide. Now it’s your chance. Enter by October 21, 2010, and let us know where you’d like to go and why it will help your business grow. Up to 250 companies will be invited to fly free from New York to London and beyond on British Airways. If you or your business isn’t eligible, please feel free to forward this email to anyone who could benefit from this unique opportunity for small businesses. There’s a lot more to our Face-to-Face program, so be sure to visit our Business Hub at ba.com/facetoface. You’ll find success stories from last year’s winners, weekly blogs, articles and other tools to help your business make the most of face-to-face meetings worldwide. Warm regards, Anne Tedesco Vice President, Marketing

41  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

International:

US President Obama Hails Zambia and New Ambassador

resident Barack Obama has praised Zambia for her continued efforts to maintain peace and stability in the African sub-region. Mr. Obama said Zambia’s peaceful transition to self-governance and its commitment to maintaining peace for almost half a century will remain steadfast and that it is a positive example to neighbouring countries. He said this at the White House when newly appointed Zambia’s ambassador to the USA Sheila Siwela presented her credential. This is according to a statement released in Lusaka yesterday by first secretary at the Zambian mission in USA, Ben Kangwa. Mr Obama said US recognises the

growing role Zambia continues to play in regional security issues and in particular as part of the Troika leading the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on politics, defence and security cooperation. He assured the Zambian government of his Her Excellency Ambassador Sheila Siwela country’s continuous co-operation to advance a common agenda to strengthen the partnership between the two countries. He also said the two countries have Mr Obama said Zambia and the USA shared a vision of peace and stability in have enjoyed a long-lasting relation- southern Africa. ship which dates back to 1964. see Amb. Siwela on page 51

Businessman in Chicago Launches Solar Ovens in Uganda Ron Mutebi’s plan to sell sun-powered cookers heats up

n immigrant from Uganda now residing in Chicago has used the first portion of a $100,000 business competition prize he won in January to begin setting up an operation in his homeland to produce and distribute ovens that cook with the heat of the sun. Ron Mutebi won his $100,000 prize at the African Diaspora Marketplace competition in Washington in January. The competition, sponsored by Western Union Company and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided awards of $50,000

to $100,000 to 14 winners. All of them are Africans residing in the United States who had submitted proposals to establish or expand businesses in their home countries with local partners. After Western Union disbursed $60,000 of the prize money in May, Mutebi arranged to ship from Chicago the components for 365 solar ovens and tools to assemble them in July. The shipment is scheduled to arrive in Uganda in October. In November,

Mutebi will travel to Uganda to oversee the completion of an assembly plant and the training of staff to produce, distribute and service the cookers, made

42  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see Solar Ovens on page 51

Ambassador Lenhardt Hosts African Presidential Roundtable 2010 Reception

n Monday, August 30, 2010, Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt hosted the opening reception of the 2010 African Presidential Roundtable (APR), held in Dar es Salaam from August 30-31.

The roundtable was sponsored by Boston University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) Director Rev. Charles R. Stith, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania from 1998 - 2001. The opening reception was attended by 125 guests, including former African heads of state, APARC officials, and, as observers, students from eleven U.S. and African colleges and universities. In his remarks, Ambassador Lenhardt commended the former African leaders for debating land reform and said the United States seeks to partner with the

AGOA Opens Doors for American Businesses Office of US Trade Representative

hile one important goal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is to bring African countries into the global market, AGOA also opens the doors for American businesses to expand their exports to 40 African countries. One of the businesses taking advantage of the benefits AGOA provides is Edlen International, Inc., which manufactures and exports special dough conditioners that improve the quality of baking flour. Edlen International, based in Atlanta,

Georgia, currently exports its products to Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda. It also looks forward to expanding its sales to Ghana and Tanza-

nia. Company president Eddy Atunzu said Edlen International’s export sales to Africa have helped to support 10 U.S. employees. “Our exporting maintains and increases jobs for Americans,” he said. “As long as businesses in African countries continue to order our products, we continue to maintain our employee level and increase when our orders increase.” Atunzu said Edlen International also works to benefit the African bakeries he exports products to.

African Union and individual countries to transform a historically low-performing subsistence agriculture sector into an engine of economic growth and poverty reduction. He noted that improving agricultural practices, conservation farming, and proper land and water management policy reform is only part of a broader issue: “Any serious sector-wide transformation must address concerns over land demarcation, title, registration and utilization, not just to attract private sector investment, but also to ensure that small-landholder farmers, and in particular women, have the ability to use land as collateral for agricultural financing.” The Ambassador said the strong partnership between the American people and the people of Tanzania is based on mutual respect: “We are rooting for your success, and we want to work with you to achieve that success, but ultimately success is going to be see Roundtable Reception on page 47

“We help to stabilize the bakery industry, especially in the West African Sub-Region” said Atunzu. “The use of our product keeps bakeries profitable and viable, thus enabling them to progress and maintain employee levels and even hire new ones.” Like Edlen International, more and more American businesses have been working in recent years to establish and increase trade with African countries. In 2008, U.S. total imports from subSaharan Africa were more than four times the amount in 2001 - exceeding $86 billion - while U.S. total exports to sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled during this period, reaching $18.6 billion. Step by step, AGOA is helping to expand and diversify trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa and to

43  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see AGOA Forum on page 45

Best of Africa Trade Show 1st February 2011 - 30th April 2011

Information & Registration is at

www.businessglobal.com

The USA Exports Show 1st December 2010 - 28 February 2011

his virtual trade show is designed to increase the volume of trade and investment between American exporters and importers (particularly SME’s) and businesses outside the USA. The USA Exports Show will attract international B2B buyers, distributors, governmental agencies, and entrepreneurs from the USA’s most significant trade partners. This one-of-a kind online trade fair is a golden opportunity for exhibitors to build brand awareness, establish new markets, create franchising partnerships, reach new customers and recruit new suppliers. With thousands of daily B2B trade visitors, USA Exports Show is the perfect vehicle for businesses and organisations worldwide seeking B2B trade opportunities and investments within North America. The USA’s top ten trade partners are Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil and Belgium – in 2008, the country exported approximately $1.287 trillion worth of goods. For decades, the USA has been the global leader in imports and one of world’s top three exporters, producing roughly $15 trillion worth of goods and services in 2008 (China, the world’s second-largest economy, produced approximately $12 trillion for the same period). The USA is the leading industrial power in the world and boasts a highly diversified and technologically advanced economy. According to the IMF, US GDP of $14.4 trillion was 23% of gross world product for 2008 – per person, the American economy has the fourth largest output on average, more than $45,000 for every man, woman and child. The UCLA Anderson School of Management has predicted average US quarterly economic growth of 2.7% in 2010 and 4.1% in 2011.  What are Virtual Trade Shows? The BusinessGlobal.com virtual trade show platform provides end-users with a 3-D, multi-user trade expo environment that recreates the experience and functionality of a conventional or ‘physical’ trade show online, enabling live interaction between visitors and exhibitors. Virtual trade exhibitions give your organisation the opportunity to reach market segments heretofore unavailable at conventional trade shows, which are often prohibitive to potential attendees and potential exhibitors because of fees, time constraints, travel expenses and these shows are available to a much larger audience for a much longer period.

est of Africa is a country specific online trade show bringing competitive products and resources from Africa’s rapidly growing economies to an international marketplace. As the demands of the global marketplace evolve and the world economy recovers from the fiscal crisis of 2008 - 2009, the Best of Africa international trade fair provides a unique and timely opportunity for African exhibitors to increase brand awareness, establish new markets, develop franchising partnerships, reach new customers and recruit new suppliers globally. Visitors can find African suppliers, manufacturers and distributors in one place. Rich in natural resources, Africa offers vast reserves of oil, metals and precious stones. With thousands of pristine travel destinations, the tourism industry, including health & wellness tourism, continues to grow steadily. Best of Africa is a golden opportunity for African enterprises to connect with thousands of motivated buyers, and for international businesses seeking investment and B2B trade opportunities in Africa. BusinessGlobal.com has partnered with the Pan-African Development Corporation (PADC) to create this virtual trade fair. The PADC is devoted to the development of commerce and enterprise in Africa – the organisation’s mission is to bring Africa to the world, and the world to Africa. BusinessGlobal.com, in partnership with the PADC, is particularly proud to showcase many of Africa’s finest businesses to the rest of the world. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Africa has made remarkable gains in promoting growth and achieving economic stability, averaging more than 6% over the past five years. The IMF has increased financial support to African countries affected by the economic crisis, revised its lending instruments to make them more flexible, and is working to double concessional lending. The Fund continues to provide advice and technical assistance for strengthening economic policymaking in Africa, and to design more sophisticated frameworks for improved integration into the world economy. With global efforts such as these to encourage growth in this region, it is an opportune time for African businesses to access international markets. In recent years, Africa has built increasingly stronger ties with China – in 2007 Chinese companies invested a total of US$1 billion in Africa, overtaking Britain as Africa’s thirdlargest business partner and catching up with France. Trade between China and Africa reached USD $100 billion in 2008 and is expected to top USD $100 billion in 2010. Africa now supplies a third of the oil fuelling China’s economic boom, with Angola surpassing Saudi Arabia as the largest exporter of oil to China. With more oil reserves than North America, and an estimated 40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power, Africa is on the verge of becoming a major global energy provider. With major world players now paying attention, African businesses have the opportunity to expand into new markets worldwide. 

44  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

AGOA Forum from page 43

build partnerships between U.S. and African businesses. AGOA breaks down the barriers of U.S. - African trade, benefitting both African businesses and businesses at home.

How Trade can Help Reduce Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

rade can be an important tool for promoting sub-Saharan Africa’s economic development and improving lives and livelihoods. That is why African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade preference pro-

gram that provides duty free access to the U.S. market for substantially all products exported from 38 eligible subSaharan African countries can make a real difference in the lives of African entrepreneurs, farmers and families seeking a better life. Now in its tenth year, AGOA, enacted in 2000, has been at the center of U.S.-African engagement on trade and investment. AGOA has helped expand and diversify African exports to the United States, while at the same time fostering an improved business environment in many African countries. U.S. imports under AGOA in 2009 totaled $33.7 billion, with $3.4 billion in nonoil trade, a sector that the United States wants to further expand. Thanks to AGOA, imports of nontraditional and value-added products from Africa have increased dramatically. These include manufactured goods from South Africa, apparel from Lesotho, jams and jellies from Swaziland, cut flowers from Kenya and Ethiopia, and processed cocoa products from Ghana. AGOA eligible countries are: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros,

Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya. Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia The eighth meeting of the AGOA Forum was held in August 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. U.S. Government representatives met with numerous African trade

ministers, leaders of African regional economic organizations, and representatives of the African and American private sectors and civil society to discuss issues and strategies for advancing trade, investment, and economic development in Africa as well as ways to increase two-way U.S.-Africa trade. The ninth AGOA Forum took place in both Washington, DC and in Kansas City, MO under the theme ‘AGOA at 10: New Strategies for a Changing World.’ Learn more about the US-Africa trade agenda on our Africa page (www. ustr.gov/countries-regions/africa).” 

45  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

46  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

1st Annual Pan African Global Trade Conference Unifying Africa and the African Diaspora through International Trade & Commerce California State University Dominguez Hills 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747 October 21, 2010 & October 22, 2010 The 1st Annual Pan African Global Trade ConferenceTM is designed for corporate leaders, policy makers, NGO’s and small business owners who want to create opportunities to strengthen business and cultural relations between the U.S., Africa and the African Diaspora through global business and economic development. Our objective is to develop bilateral Public/ Private partnerships that promote and facilitate economic growth and free trade relationships. This first of its kind landmark event in California will provide opportunities for conference participants to: • Network with private and public sector leaders and potential business partners from the U.S., Africa and the African Diaspora in VIP receptions, roundtable business panels and private business meetings, • Learn about current economic development projects in Africa’s emerging business market through real world case studies and business opportunity showcases, • Learn about current financing and investment opportunities for international trade & commerce with Africa. Delegates from the United States, Africa and the African Diaspora representing political & social organizations, business and investment, the arts and culture, education, international trade and tourism will join local and international chambers of commerce, international trade agencies & associations, banks and logistics companies to discuss & implement this important program. For more information call Al Washington, Executive Director, Africa-USA Chamber of Commerce at 626.321.7041 or send e-mail inquiry’s to alwashington@africa-usa.org. You may register to participate as as a sponsor, an exhibitor, a vendor, an advertiser or a registered general or student particpant by visiting www.suretomeet.com/exec/gt/event.h,event=8bbb8f7d23d8.

Roundtable Reception from page 43

in your hands… Solutions for Africa’s challenges today will come from Africans themselves.” The African Presidential Archives and Research Center (http://www. bu.edu/aparc/) at Boston University studies democratization and free market reform in Africa. Through a residency program for former democratically elected African leaders and access to their papers, and through access to present democratically elected leaders, the Center provides a forum for these former leaders to share their insights and expertise. 

A Royal Blend of all natural West African herbs and fiery spices www.kingspepper.com 323.291.4267 Before you grill, before you bake,

Buy King’s Pepper

and Shake, Shake, Shake!

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Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers 47  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Goldman Sachs Launches 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach Join Effort to Drive Economic Growth, Create Jobs $20 Million in Small Business Loans to be Provided Through Local Community Development Financial Institutions Business Education Partners to Include Los Angeles Community College District, Long Beach Community College District The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) today announced the greater Los Angeles 10,000 Small Businesses initiative. Throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the program will offer a unique combination of three resources to help small business grow and create jobs: •

Business and Management Education: Small business owners will have access to a high quality business education developed in partnership with leading national business schools. Through the program, they can develop a business growth plan through a practical business and management education offered by Los Angeles City College, one of the nine campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), and The Long Beach Community College District. The education will be free to accepted business owners selected through a competitive application process administered by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) in partnership with City College and The Long Beach Community College District. 10,000 Small Businesses is also partnering with LACCD’s Los Angeles Southwest College to support the needs of small businesses with a particular focus on minority and lowincome business owners in the South Los Angeles region. Southwest College will build its capacity to enhance its small business curriculum and associated business support services.

•

Access to Capital: Goldman Sachs will commit $20 million of lending capital, in addition to philanthropic support to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in Los Angeles County. The investment will increase the amount of growth capital available to small businesses in underserved communities and expand the capacity of the CDFIs to deliver enhanced technical assistance to small businesses. The first CDFI that will be receiving financing from Goldman Sachs will be the Valley Economic Development Center. Additional CDFI partners will enter the program in the future.

•

Business Support Services: Business advice, technical assistance, and networking will be offered to participating small business owners through partnerships with the community colleges and national and local business organizations, as well as the people of Goldman Sachs.

“My number one priority is getting the people of Los Angeles back to work, and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiative is the type of program we need in Los Angeles,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “Not only will this investment set in motion job creation at the most grassroots level, but it will have a real impact on the lives of the 70% of Angelenos that are employed by small businesses by granting them the opportunity to expand their entrepreneurial enterprise through education, loans, and networking.” “Los Angeles is home to many very talented small business owners,” said Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “Working with local community development financial institutions and community colleges, we aim to give selected local businesses the resources they need to grow and create jobs.” 10,000 Small Businesses began operations in New York in 2010 where LaGuardia Community College is offering education and Seedco Financial Services is providing access to capital. The program will begin in Los Angeles in August, 2010. Interested small businesses should apply for the education portion directly through the local community colleges and CDFIs. •

Los Angeles City College: www.lacc10ksb.com

•

The Long Beach Community College District: http://www.lbcc.edu/10000smallbusinesses/

•

Valley Economic Development Center: http://www.vedc.org/

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL U.S. Commercial Service • Your Global Business Partner www.buyusa.gov/home/us.html Event: American Showcase 2010 Venue: Cagayan de Oro City Date: September 16-18, 2010 he U.S. Commercial Service is bringing the “American” brand to Mindanao. This exhibit will help promote and strengthen the American brand in the growing business districts of Cagayan de Oro City and throughout the Mindanao region. Mindanao is an important market for U.S. companies outside of Manila, and we would like to work with your firm to reinvigorate U.S.-Mindanao business ties and to showcase the best of America in the Philippines. The American Showcase 2010 exhibition and seminar program will tap an extensive network of contacts and partnerships that the U.S. Commercial Service has established with trade associations and Chambers of Commerce in the Mindanao region. For more information please contact Ms. Thess Sula, Commercial Specialist. She can be reached at telephone (02) 844-3393; 888-6619 or (02) 888-4088 ext. 5830/5827; fax: 888-6606, or by email Thess.Sula@trade.gov and Dell.Santos@Trade.gov.

Event: Complying with U.S. Export Controls Seminar Venue: Salt Lake City, Utah Date: September 22-23, 2010 earn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/utah/exportcontrolseminar.html Join Commercial Service Utah and the Utah District Export Council for a program led by the Bureau of Industry and Security’s professional counseling and compliance specialists. Complying with U.S. Export Controls provides an in-depth examination of the information exporters need to know to comply with U.S. export control requirements on commercial goods. This program is well suited for any company or research institution that needs a comprehensive understanding of their obligations under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. For more information contact: David.Fiscus@trade. gov.

Event: 5th Annual International Trade Conference - Hot Market Watch: Selling to Brazil, China & India Venue: Duke Energy Center, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Date: October 19, 2010; 7am-5pm Cost: $150/$125 for additional company representatives earn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/cincinnati/conference.html Organized by Commercial Service (CS) Cincinnati, this year’s conference will focus on the “hot markets” of Brazil, China and India and will provide market updates, tools, and resources for companies interested in selling to or expanding further into these countries. Presenters will include U.S. Department of Commerce international trade experts, as well as international companies and organizations sharing their expertise and resources for Brazil, China and India. In addition to conference plenary sessions, there will be over 10 break-out sessions to choose from. Selected topics for each country will include: market overviews; economic outlooks; customs & logistics; financial considerations; legal considerations; taxation/accounting; regulations; second-tier cities in China and India; and company experiences. For more information, please contact: Marcia.Brandstadt@trade.gov

Event: Boost Your Service Exports by Connecting with Chinese Investors Venue: U.S. Embassy Beijing Online “AccessAmerica” Directory Date: 2010 Learn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/china/en For information, please contact julie.carducci@mail.doc.gov. ccessAmerica is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s online Chinese-language directory of U.S. firms that provide customized services to Chinese companies that want to conduct business in the U.S., including finding partners and setting up offices. It is promoted extensively throughout China in cooperation with our State and other partners. All U.S. states are invited to partner with us to facilitate service exports and inward investment. AccessAmerica is featured on the U.S. Embassy Chinese webpage which has 100,000 hits per month; and it is featured at Invest in America programs in the U.S. and China. Your listing will include company information, company logo, and contact details, all translated into Chinese, for a one-year subscription fee of $400. Increase your visibility in China and boost your PRC client base.

49  May 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

What’s In It For Me? •Local, National & International News

Where Do I Find It? •BBA website

www.bbala.org •Black Business News monthly publication

Black Business News

•Black Business News/ International - quarterly publication •Black Business News Internet Edition

International Edition To be added to the International Edition mailing list or to advertise in the publication send an e-mail request to: mail@bbala.org. View the International Edition at www.bbala.org and www.yudu.com Search: Black-Business-News-International



How Do I Participate & Benefit? •Join the BBA at

www.bbala.org •Advertise in the BBA publications •Attend BBA Events Hosted to Benefit the African American Community of Businesses

50  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Amb. Siwela from page 42

Mr Obama said collaborative efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS in Zambia through the US President’s Emergency Fund for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) has contributed to putting over 229,000 Zambians on anti-retroviral treatment. He said the fund has also assisted to reach 73 percent of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services and served over 443,000 orphans and vulnerable children in 2009. And Mrs Siwela conveyed President Banda’s gratitude for the USA’s continued assistance to Zambia. She said the collaborative efforts have culminated in Zambia being a beneficiary of the USA Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the PRPFAR of which Zambia is one of the lowest developed countries (LCD) beneficiaries. She said under the MCA threshold programme in 2006, Zambia received US$22.7 million meant to reduce corruption, improve government effectiveness and to facilitate the country’s eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which manages MCA. Mrs Siwela said it is for this reason that the Zambian government remains steadfast to fighting corruption in all its manifestations and to uphold the rule of law. “To this effect, Zambia is looking forward to free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections in 2011,” she said. Mrs Siwela said the MCC assistance has facilitated trade and investment in Zambia by streamlining processes in institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Zambia Revenue Authority, Chirundu border post, Immigration Department and the Ministry of Land. On the AGOA, Mrs Siwela said because of the great importance Zambia

attaches to it, Government has indicated willingness and readiness to host its 2011 forum in Lusaka. “It is, therefore, important for the US government to be represented at the highest level possible. Zambia will be represented at the forthcoming AGOA forum to be held in Washington DC and Kansas City from August 2-6 at ministerial level,” she said. On support to health care in Zambia, Mrs Siwela expressed gratitude to the US government for the US$90 million package announced on June 25, 2010, whose focus is on training and capacity building. She hoped that this assistance would contribute to the improved and better health to millions of Zambians. Mrs Siwela commended USA for the

US$15 billion PEPFAR funding in more than 120 countries for combating HIV/ AIDS. She said of the amount, Zambia has received more than US$1.2 billion since 2004. Mrs Siwela said significant progress was achieved in 2009 with 229,200 individuals receiving ARVs; About The Ambassador Ambassador Siwela previously served as ambassador to the Benelux countries, the European Communities and the African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) from 2008 to 2010, as well as the Zambian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). see Amb. Siwela on page 53

Solar Ovens from page 42

by Sun Ovens International (www.sunovens.com) in Elgin, Illinois. The ovens will appear in Ugandan markets in January 2011, according to Mutebi. Mutebi has already compiled a list of nearly 1,000 people who want to buy one of the ovens, which he said will be sold for $170 each. “We know the payoff is going to be there. It will be big when it happens,” Mutebi said. “There is no other technol-

ogy that can have such an impact on environmental degradation and global warming in a practical sense.” After acquiring solar ovens, villagers will not have to spend their meager incomes to buy firewood or charcoal, the prime sources of cooking fuel in Uganda, Mutebi said. The use of firewood and charcoal has caused widespread

deforestation in Uganda. Mutebi will arrange a second shipment of oven parts when he receives the rest of the prize money, which he expects to be in November. The Chicago-based businessman said that as Ugandan companies start to provide locally made components over the next two years, he expects the cost of the ovens to come down to about $100, a 41 percent drop in price but still a substantial sum for many Ugandans, whose per capita income is $1,200 per year.

His biggest challenge to growing the business, he said, is the high interest rates that Ugandan banks charge for consumer loans — around 24 percent. Mutebi said he is looking for ways to allow oven purchasers to buy on installment. “We can’t run a business sus-

51  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

see Solar Ovens on page 53

www.green-technology.org/ccsummit Community colleges are a focal point for state - and national - efforts to create a green economy and workforce in California. This Summit is focused on all aspects of this dynamic market - from green building and energy efficiency to the products and services that new green facilities will need. It also encompasses green job training - the needs of industry and the challenges of developing curriculum that meets these needs. If you want to be engaged with the leaders of this movement, or to get up to date on the programs, projects, policies and technologies that are fueling it, there is no better opportunity than the Green California Community Colleges Summit. Visit the summit webpage for more information on attending or exhibiting.

Your last chance for a registration discount is September 30th, so don’t wait any longer to register. Remember, groups of four or more are eligible for additional discounts. REGISTER NOW!! Questions? Call 626.577.5700 For more information, write to nmiller@green-technology.org or Cindy Dangberg, Summit Director, cdangberg@green-technology.org

Salinas, California - Dec. 1, 2010 www.mbita.org/greentradenetwork/summit2010.html

52  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Mayor Villaraigosa Appoints Dwayne Gathers to Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles Board of Commissioners Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today appointed Dwayne Gathers to the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) Board of Commissioners. “Dwayne’s background in business development and government relations is the perfect intersection of professional experiences for this position,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “He will be a great addition to the efforts underway at the CRA to improve our neighborhoods and the livelihoods of all residents. I am confident Dwayne will serve the City with the energy and dedication that have become the hallmarks of his career.” Mr. Gathers is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Gathers Strategies, a business advisory firm specializing in business development and government relations. He recently served as Regional Manager for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation where he directed business attraction, expansion and retention efforts. While Mr. Gathers began his career in finance, he also has professional experience in international affairs and trade and business development. The mission of the CRA/LA is to make strategic investments, create economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life for individuals and families who live and work in Los Angeles. A Board of seven Commissioners appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed by City Council, oversees the CRA/LA. The Board of Commissioners oversees all CRA/LA projects and policies, directs its annual budget, and appoints an Administrator/CEO to direct the staff of the CRA/LA. 

Amb. Siwela from page 51

In addition, she served as ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2005 to 2008 and as Zambia’s deputy head of mission to Nigeria from 2003 to 2005. She was appointed to a committee that spearheaded the Zambian privatization process in the early 1990s, and from 1993 to 2000, she worked with the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) as a senior consultant in human resources development, leadership and gender issues.

Ambassador Siwela also founded the Motivational Centre for Africa’s Transformation (MOCAT) in 2002. She holds a diploma in social work from the University of Zambia, a bachelor’s degree in administration from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a master’s degree in human resources development from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Ambassador Siwela is also the author of two books on values and personal development, and she is an international motivational speaker whose talks focus on women and youth.  Daily Mail

Solar Ovens from page 51

tainably the way we want to because of the lack of support from financial institutions,” he said. Mutebi also is looking at nonmonetary methods for villagers to buy an oven. For example, as Mutebi explains it, a Ugandan farmer may plant fruit trees on his land in exchange for an oven. The trees would be Mutebi’s property. The farmer and his family would be free to consume the fruit, but Mutebi would have rights to harvest and sell the surplus. This way, he said, “the ovens not only will stop deforestation but also will promote planting of new trees. Farmers will have an economic incentive to do this.” Since winning the prize, Mutebi has spoken on frequent occasions about entrepreneurship in Africa. He was a featured speaker at the Africa Infrastructure Conference, sponsored by the Corporate Council on Africa in April in Washington, and at President Obama’s Forum with Young African Leaders in August. “I am blessed to have this opportunity to bring solar ovens to my people. I’m helping alleviate poverty and global warming and make a profit at the same time,” Mutebi said.  By Phillip Kurata, Staff Writer www.america.gov

ww.bbala.org

•Contracting Information •Employment Opportunities •Links to Sponsor Websites •Event Announcements •Resources:

• President’s Message • Financial Management • Meeting Management • International News • BBA Publications • Other Information

53  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

JWFA

Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors, LLC M a n a g i n g We a l t h I n t e l l i g e n t l y

WHY OWN GOLD IN YOUR IRA/401k Changing jobs creates a great opportunity for you to switch, or rollover, your former employer’s retirement plan into an IRA. Plus, it usually provides you with more investment options than if you left the money in your former employer’s plan or rolled the money into your new employer's retirement plan. The early 1980s presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy stocks. Today, economic and political conditions appear to offer a similar opportunity in tangible assets such as physical gold. With the global economic environment growing more uncertain, physical gold has become the #1 alternative for IRA, 401k, 403b, and Pension Plans, as well as for non-retirement funds. Gold is produced primarily for accumulation while other commodities are produced primarily for consumption. Gold’s value does not arise from its usefulness in industrial or consumable applications. It arises from its use and historical worldwide acceptance as a store of value. Gold is money. A healthy measure of gold clearly belongs in every portfolio for the “Four Ps” – Personal Purchasing Power Protection. There are six primary reasons why investors own gold: As a hedge against inflation. As a hedge against a declining dollar. As a safe haven in times of geopolitical and financial market instability. As a commodity based on gold’s supply and demand fundamentals. As a store of value. As a portfolio diversifier. According to Bloomberg.com, on October 15, 2009, Paul Tudor Jones of Tudor Investment Corp, who manages about $11.6 billion out of Greenwich, Connecticut, told its investors, “I have never been a gold bug… but Gold is just an asset that, like everything else in life, has its time and place. And now is that time…Gold appears to be cheap. In our view, gold’s value should increase as its scarcity relative to printed currencies increases.” JAMAAL WILKES FINANCIAL ADVISORS makes 401(k) rollovers easy with just a few simple steps. Please call us at (310)209-8298 or email gold@jamaalwilkes.com for a web seminar presentation. Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors is an independent Registered Investment Advisor www.jamaalwilkes.com Phone: (310)209-8330 6601 Center Drive West, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90045

Advertorial-Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors, LLC:

Is Gold In A Bubble? No Way! Classic Cup and Handle Pattern

n the front page of all the media outlets is the question if gold is in a bubble. I ride bubbles and look for beginning signs of bubbles. Bubbles are irrational, but there is an old saying that “markets are irrational a lot longer than one can stay solvent.” I believe gold is nowhere near a bubble top and believe now is the time to profit on the next major asset class ready to run. Gold is in a classic cup and handle pattern. The cup and handle pattern has historically led to major market moves. See charts and explanations that follow...

You can see by the graph above the major breakout from the six month saucer on excellent volume. Notice how the volume dries up on the handle. Now I expect a major breakout and a run to $1,375 an ounce. Compared to other bubbles gold appears flat.

Above is a chart of the oil index verses the gold and silver index. Notice the run in oil before the credit collapse. This run lasted almost 5 years before it topped. Meanwhile for the past 15 years the XAU has been relatively flat and yet it has had a nice run we have not seen the run up like other asset class bubbles. I believe there are signs that we may be moving into a peak gold area and would not be surprised if there is a global rush to gold as investors lose faith in fiat currencies. The recent collapse of the euro only preludes what will eventually happen with the dollar and treasuries. Now many people have run from the Euro to dollars, but I believe that is temporary. Now is the time, before the masses rush in, to buy gold. This is not the time to be bottom fishing other markets. I believe to stick to strength. The chart above gives me the confidence to know that we have not entered bubble territory yet. 

55  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

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56  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Malik’s Books Online

alik’s Books has closed operations in the Baldwin Hills Mall. Malik’s is now operating as an online bookstore. Malik’s is now available to serve our customer’s needs 24/7 via the world wide web with bigger deals and a larger selection. We will remain as active in the South Los Angeles community as we have always been. Please visit us at www.Malikbooks.com and/or www.autographbooks. com. For other information give us a call at 818-564-5694. If you want to coorespond with us, send letters to Malik’s Books, 3939 Crenshaw Boulevard, #324, Los Angeles, CA 90008. Thank You again for all your support and patronage over the years and visit us on the Web. 

Malik’s Books

Books to Consider... Behind The Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transfored a Nation by Clarence B. Jones (www.amazon.com). “I have a dream.” When those words were spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, the crowd stood, electrified, as Martin

www.Malikbooks.com • www.autogrpahbooks.com malikbooks@att.net • 818-564-5694

Give the Gifts of Knowledge, Inspiration, Entertainment. Shop the

Black Book Stores!

Eso Won Books

African American Books 4331 Degnan Ave., Leimert Park, Los Angeles

“Give Books as Gifts to Friends & Family” Terry McMillan is coming back to EsoWon to sign and discuss her book “Getting to Happy” on Tuesday, Sept. 28th at 7:00 pm, California Science Center, Exposition Park, 39th Street & Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037 Phone: (323) SCIENCE (323) 724-3623 Parking at Exposition Park is $8:00 This signing is produced in conjunction with The Black Hollywood Education & Research Center.

323-294-0324 www.esowonbooks.com //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events

Luther King, Jr. brought the plight of African Americans to the public consciousness and firmly established himself as one of the greatest orators of all time. Behind the Dream is a thrilling, behind-the-scenes account of the weeks leading up to the great event, as told by Clarence Jones, co-writer of the speech and close confidant to King. Jones was there, on the road, collaborating with the great minds of the time, and hammering out the ideas and the speech that would shape the civil rights movement and inspire Americans for years to come. The author provides insight into what the slain civil rights leader would say about the state of today’s political affairs, view racial and religious conflict, illegal immigration, and war. 

57  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

VERACITY REALTY, INC. “Dedicated to Truthfulness” Let us see what we can do for you in both Commercial & Residential finance!

Jonathan Thompson, Commercial Broker Phone: 800-455-2142 Cell: 323-309-2885

Rhonda Thompson, Residential Loan Officer Phone 800-455-2142 Cell: 323-387-9439 CA Dept. of Real Estate, Real Estate Broker: 01781216 *APR: Includes appraisal, title insurance, escrow, points & other loan cost is 6.487%

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Open Supplier Certification Process The Verizon Communications Corporation is seeking to identify a greater share of African American-owned and operated businesses to match to potential operating contracts. The data base that Verizon procurement management personnel are instructed to review is the California Public Utilities Commission Clearinghouse.

Entrepreneurial Business Development Diversified  Subdivision  Product-Mix & Creating Jobs Across America City by City  State by State National and International Trade Exchange

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BBA members wanting to expand market opportunities with a telecommunication company should consider completing a supplier certification application. To obtain an application go to the Internet web address www.cpuc.gov and visit the supplier diversity page for an online application. The BBA encourages all members to participate in this process that works to create greater opportunities for all African-American owned and operated firms. Last year the California Verizon Company reported an annual spend with African American owned suppliers in excess of $40 million.

58  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Lucy Florence Culture Center 3351 W. 43rd St. Leimert Park Village Los Angeles, CA 90008

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59  September 2010  Black Business News  www.bbala.org

Caltrans Construction

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El Camino College offers the training and advising you need to enhance your ability to bid for and WIN state highway construction contracts. Now is the time to get bid ready with assistance in the areas of procurement, personnel, cash flow, marketing and more!

Appointments with a business advisor are available at the SBDC at no charge to you. For more information, call the SBDC at 310.973.3177. Be sure to attend the free Economic Stimulus event on Thursday, November 19, 2009, in the City of Compton to learn more about stimulus opportunities available from Caltrans and other state and federal agencies. Visit californiasbdc.org for details.

Small Business Development Center Hosted by El Camino College 13430 Hawthorne Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250 310.973.3177 southbaysbdc.org

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