Small Business

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Nov 4 2010

Development council seminars assist in bridging the gap

Establishment of minority and women-owned businesses today continue to grow at a rapid pace, but they still, at times, continue to struggle with being over-looked for business contracts and falls short of accumulating adequate funding to keep them in business.

Southern California Minority Business Development Council (SCMBDC) was founded in 1975 by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Minority Enterprise Coalition of Los Angeles in an effort to support and develop minority businesses, enabling them to be better equipped to compete in their respective industries.

Oct 22 2010

City contracts

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Los Angeles' top elected officials vowed to help small and minority-owned local businesses win more contracts with the city.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he would develop a "business inclusion program'' that would expand the city's pool of potential bidders to include more small and minority-owned local businesses, which he called "the lifeblood of the Southern California economy.''

"As these businesses prosper, so does the city,'' Villaraigosa said.

Oct 14 2010

Small business

In shaky economies, companies that invest in their marketing often come out on top. But for small business, making these investments often feels risky. Not only are time and resources tight, many small business owners feel they lack the knowledge to make the marketing choices that provide a return.

In fact, figuring out “what works” is the top marketing concern for nearly 80 percent of small business owners, according to a recent survey by Deluxe Corporation.

Sep 7 2010

Groups receive grants to aid job creation

LOS ANGELES - Homeboy Industries and other projects to create jobs in Los Angeles have been awarded a share of $1 million in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, it was announced.

The Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) program grants - amounting to between $20,000 and $50,000 --are handed out each year, to support economic and community development and affordable housing projects in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Jun 25 2009

Rep. Watson announces new program

Washington, D.C. -- Many local small businesses may soon be eligible for interest-free loans under a new program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Rep. Diane Watson announced. The “America’s Recovery Capital” (ARC) program allows small firms to take out loans of $35,000 to pay down existing business debts. Borrowers pay no interest on the ARC loans and repayment does not begin for one year. The loan program was established through the ARRA, which the President signed into law in February. Rep.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.