Chamber Leaders:
Here’s Your Opportunity to Receive up to $10k in Funding

Deadline: June 1st

2017 USBC & Wells Fargo Chamber Microgrant 

The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) is proud to partner with Wells Fargo to announce a special funding program for its Chamber Members. According to the recent 2015 USBC Policy Priorities Survey, the top two concerns for Black businesses in America are: Access to Capital, and Entrepreneur Training. The USBC & Wells Fargo partnership will provide $70,000 in a series of microgrants to USBC affiliated Chambers nationwide.

Application Due Date: Thursday June 1, 2017 (11:59PM EST)

Qualifications:

• Must be an existing program targeted toward strengthening your small business members.
• Recipients must be willing to provide progress reports and present at a national or regional event describing the use of the funds and updates on the program.
• Must be a current dues-paying member of the USBC.

Note: If you are already receiving funding from Wells Fargo, you are still able to apply for this grant.

Grant Amounts:

• TIER I: Funding Level $10,000 (4 available)
• TIER II: Funding Level $5,000 (1 available)
• TIER III: Funding Level $2,500 (10 available)

Timeline:

• The grant funding timeline is one full year.
• Grant recipients will be recognized during the 2017 USBC School of Chamber & Business Management Luncheon on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Award winners must have a member present to receive the grant.
• The first half of the funds will be issued at the beginning of the grant cycle by July 2017
• A mid-year progress report accompanied with a presentation will be due by December 2017.
• The second half of funds will be issued by January, 2018 pending the submission and performance indicated in the midway progress report.
• Grant funding cycle ends and final report due – June, 2018
• Further details will be provided in the award letter.

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President Trump’s Budget Eliminates Key Resource for Black Entrepreneurs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Krystal Glass
See Media Inquiry Form Below
202-463-8722

We urge Congress to resist Trump’s ludicrous proposal

Washington, D.C.- Today’s release of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget by the Trump Administration is another failure to recognize the impact of Black business owners. The President’s proposal calls for the elimination of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a key institution at the Department of Commerce and the only program dedicated to advancing minority business enterprises.

The program, which accounts for less than .001% of federal spending, supports business centers throughout the country and has helped secure $36 billion in contracts and capital for minority-owned businesses, retaining 125,000 jobs.

Only three weeks ago, Congress saw fit to increase the program’s funding to $34,000,000–legislation signed into law by President Trump. That funding followed USBC President Ron Busby’s testimony submitted to House Appropriators about the importance of continuing funding for the Minority Business Development Agency. Following today’s announcement, USBC President Ron Busby released the following statement:

“Yet again, the Trump Administration that campaigned on job creation turns its back on the very programs proven to spur minority business growth. Eliminating the only program dedicated to a diversity of job creators is an affront to the millions of minority entrepreneurs nationwide. We urge Congress to resist this ludicrous proposal and maintain their bipartisan support of the Minority Business Development Agency.”

About USBC: The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) provides committed, visionary leadership and advocacy in the realization of economic empowerment. Through the creation of resources and initiatives, we support African American Chambers of Commerce and business organizations in their work of developing and growing Black enterprises.

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USBC Board Member Gives $200k to Howard University

USBC Board Member & CEO of Enlightened Inc., Antwanye Ford has partnered with the Howard University School of Business to create the region’s premier education center for training and research in cybersecurity.

-Antwanye Ford pictured second from left

Antwanye Ford’s $200,000 investment in Howard University is a crucial step towards leveling the tech playing field for Black innovators. The Cybersecurity Education and Research Center (CERC) will be housed at Howard University; providing Black students with an advanced opportunity to gain skills in cybersecurity.

With continued cyber attacks across the country, the tech industry is projected to have a high demand for cybersecurity professionals. USBC Board Member Antwanye Ford is a head of the curve in positioning Black innovators and entrepreneurs to occupy the talent pool of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals.

The CERC will provide dynamic resources to the business community, higher education partners and local residents as they advance their knowledge, understanding and competitiveness in the cybersecurity industry.

“The CERC will address growing challenges cybersecurity companies face recruiting and hiring qualified professionals. As a native Washingtonian and longtime supporter of Howard University, addressing diversity and workforce development issues is long overdue in such a lucrative industry. Being able to not only change the trajectory of current professionals in the region but also local residents is an endeavor that we at Enlightened are proud to lead,” said Antwanye Ford, President and CEO of Enlightened.

USBC President Ron Busby echoed Antwanye Ford’s sentiment:

“When it comes to the opportunity gap in the tech industry, the obvious problem is the lack of tech training and education needed to compete for contracts and business ownership in the tech industry. Antwanye Ford’s program is a stellar example of how Black leaders can begin to narrow the opportunity gap in the tech industry.”

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Aubry Stone, President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce Advocates for USBC’s Bank-Black Initiative

The post President of CALBCC Supports USBC’s Bank-Black Initiative first appeared on U.S. Black Chambers, Inc..

Black Influencer Advocates for USBC’s Bank-Black Initiative

Black History is full of trailblazers and pioneers that fought to build the Black community from the ground up, we will not let them down. We’re doing our part to support the economic development of the Black community through our Bank-Black credit card initiative, which was specifically created to help Black entrepreneurs obtain much needed capital.

Hear Maggie Anderson make the connection between Black History Month, Black entrepreneurship, and the USBC’s Bank-Black initiative:

Bank-Black is the single most powerful economic movement currently taking place in Black America. “Now” is the time to utilize our Black banks as more than a place to hold our money, but as a resource for securing capital. In an effort to help Black entrepreneurs obtain capital for personal or business use, we’ve created a credit card program with one of the nation’s most trusted and historic Black-owned banks– Liberty Bank. Join us in Banking-Black. Learn more and apply today: www.USBlackChambers.org/bankblack

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Van Jones Supports USBC’s Bank-Black Initiative

Washington, DC- The USBC’s Bank-Black Card is gaining waves of support from Black business experts and advocates including celebrity actress Kim Fields, basketball icon Lisa Leslie, finance expert Bill Cunningham, and most recently Van Jones. USBC President Ron Busby released the following statement:

As we honor Black History Month, we have just witnessed the unfortunate closing of Chicago’s historic Seaway Bank. We’ve intentionally and strategically partnered with a Black-owned Bank: Liberty Bank, to do our part in helping to sustain a Black-owned financial institution. We urge others to patronize their nearest Black-owned bank.

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USBC Statement on Black History & Black Future

The USBC takes great pride in commemorating Black History Month with a tribute that honors Black history and anticipates an even greater Black future.

Black History:

“The survival of African people away from their ancestral home is one of the great acts of human endurance in the history of the world.”

The endurance of Black people gave birth to the civil rights movement, ignited the future with the contributions from past & present trailblazers, innovators and entrepreneurs like: Frederick & Charles Patterson, the first African-Americans to manufacture cars, activist Bree Newsome the fearless activist responsible for the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house, and countless others who have paved the way.

Because contemporary tragedies like those in Charleston, Ferguson, Chicago and many others across the country, it is clear that we must support Black institutions (Black businesses, Black colleges, Black banks, etc.) and build new Black institutions in response to new challenges. The example set by Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street” proves to us that when we have a solid economic foundation, we can begin to insulate ourselves from social, economic, and institutional downfall.

Black Future:

“The economic sustainability of the Black community requires an urgent circulation of money and a collective patronizing of Black-owned businesses & Black banks. Our future depends on it.”-Ron Busby

Economic sustainability is the core purpose of the USBC Bank-Black Credit Card initiative. We’re proud to say our Bank-Black credit card initiative is making an economic impact in the Black community by providing much needed funding to Black entrepreneurs and individuals. This Black History Month we will be highlighting the economic impact of our initiative and showcasing our Bank-Black advocates.

Here at the USBC we’re doing our part to support the economic development of the Black community by focusing on providing funding to help Black entrepreneurs and individuals grow Black-owned enterprises.

As we honor Black History month we encourage you to do your part to make a positive economic impact in the Black community by supporting Black-owned businesses. Without question, your actions today become part of tomorrow’s Black History!

Make An Economic Impact:
Buy-Black | Bank Black

“The economic sustainability of the Black community requires an urgent circulation of money and a collective patronizing of Black-owned businesses & Black banks. Our future depends on it.”-Ron Busby

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