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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
FMBCC's E-Newsletter |
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| Greetings! |
Next month, the Small Business Administration (SBA) along with a host of legislators will declare May as Small Business Month and rightfully so. According to the SBA, small businesses employ more than 99% of all US workers and have created 60% of the new jobs over the past 15 years. Here in Fresno region, 27% of employers have 49 or less employees and the more than 44,000 firms that have no employees generate $1.9 billion in revenue.
The Chamber is a strong advocate for the small business community. That why we are urging the State Assembly to pass AB 150 (Perea) to increase participation of small businesses in state contracting opportunities and AB 153 (Skinner) to close a loophole that hurts California businesses while advantaging out-of-state online only retailers that have a presence in the state.
We encourage you and your business purposely seeks out ways to do business with local small businesses. The Chamber is a great resource for connecting to small businesses in our community. Look out for online tools that will help browsers find local, small and disadvantaged (WBE/DBE/MBE) businesses on our soon to be re-design website.
Look forward to seeing you at the quarterly Power Breakfast,
J. Tate Hill II, President
Fresno Metro Black Chamber
Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation
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Learn to Lead with Dr. Watts
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LEADERSHIP ADVANTAGE SEMINARS (L.A.S.)
The purpose of Leadership Advantage Seminars is to provide current and emerging leaders with
pertinent information that empowers them to influence, unite and direct people to address critical challenges within the organizations and communities they serve.
Seminar #3 - Be an Agent for Change--S.O.A.R.!
Tuesday, April 26
8:30 AM
Tornino's (Blackstone, just north of Shaw behind La Ventana's)
Invest in the Chamber:
Join FMBCC at the LAS and a portion of your ticket will come back to the Chamber.*
Call for the seminar & Chamber's special tickets prices, 559-441-7929.
* The Chamber has sponsored a table and has a limited number available complimentary tickets for members. Call to reserve your seat by Monday, April 25. Preference will be given to members.
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CA High Speed Rail Update
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Forum on Contracting Opportunities Last week, the California High-Speed Rail Authority hosted an industry forum in Los Angeles on April 12, 2011, to share information about the next steps in the procurement process and the results of the request for expressions of interest (RFEI). Last month, The California High-Speed Rail Authority received over 1,100 'expressions of interest' from businesses ranging from self-employed entrepreneurs and small businesses to multinational corporations and large construction firms. The submissions were in response to a "Request for Expressions of Interest" issued by the Authority in February, asking that the private sector put in writing their desire to help develop California's high-speed rail project that will start in the Central Valley. The Chamber combed through the 24-page RFEI list of respondents to find that only 5.5% were from the 559 area code (Tulare to Madera) and about a quarter of those were women or minority-owned firms. One of the firms was Chamber member, CJF Harris Disposal and Vendor Services that provide demolition and construction clean-up and removal. Chamber On Track with High Speed Rail: - In February, the Chamber joined forces with Fresno Works to support business opportunities and jobs through the High Speed Rail project at the congressional transportation & rail listening session held in Fresno.
- In March, we meet with the staff of State Assemblymembers Perea and Halderman along with Congressmember Denham advocating for local small and minority business outreach & contracting within the project.
- April, members of the Chamber attended the Industry Forum in Los Angeles with eight primes and 800 sub-contractors.
- April, the President and members attended a high speed rail roundtable hosted by the National Black Contractors Association attended by Senator Price, Chair of the California Black Legislative Caucus and the of the CA Senate Select Committee of Procurement. The Chamber advocated for a Fresno-based business opportunities meeting with the high spped rail and for greater outreach to small and minority businesses.
- The Chamber is advocating for opportunities for local small and minority businesses with contracted engineering firms currently working on the project.
- Signed a joint resolution with the Kern County and Antelope Valley Black Chambers of Commerce supporting high speed rail in the Valley, minority outreach, and small business procurement opportunities.
- The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce joined Central CA Hispanic Chamber and Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce in a conversation with former Assemblymember Mike Villines who is conducting outreach for URS in the business community around high speed rail. URS Corp. oversees on the Fresno to Bakersfield and Bakersfield to Palmdale stretches of the line.
- Building a strong state-federal network around regional access to high speed contracting including the presidents of the United State Black Chamber and CA Black Chamber along with Justin L. Adams, Ph.D. of Chang & Adams Consulting (Sacramento).
* If you would like to join the Chamber's High Speed Rail Team to advocate for business opportunities, call us at 559-441-7929. |
| High Speed Rail Project: Get On the Train | |
SAVE THE DATE
May 26, 2011
9:30 AM
Is your business missing out on one the largest infrastructure
project in US history?
What are the opportunities for small and minority businesses?
Are there areas of work outside of construction?
When will the bidding process start?
Less than 5% of the 1000 businesses & organizations that replied to the High Speed Rail Authority's Request for Expressed Interest were from the Fresno area.
JOIN US for the special roundtable to learn what the project can mean for your business and how to get ready to do busy with the Rail Authority. More information to come.
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May Power Breakfast
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Join the Chamber at it's quarterly Power Breakfast May 12, 2011 7:30 AM 
Harlem Wings & Waffles is located at the Riverpark Shopping Center, near Edwards Theater. Featured on KMJ580 and with rave reviews from customer sites like Urban Spoon, this is sure to be a great breakfast. The Breakfast will highlight: - Upcoming website revisions and what it will mean for your business
- High Speed Rail updates
- Ways to promote your business within the African-American community and Fresno Juneteenth
Tickets are $15. Online & credit card purchase at www.fmbcc.com/events. For more information, call 441-7929. |
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New & Returning Members | |
Allied Waste/Republic
Delaware North Companies
Corporate Tax Incentives
On Point Medical Transport
United Way of Fresno County
Passantino Andersen Communications
Hinton Community Center
Watts Family Grill
* Renewing Members |
Working for You
| Here's how the Fresno Metro Black Chamber is working for you.
March 2011
Participated in FresnoWorks activities Signed joint resolutions with Kern and Antelope Valley Black Chambers supporting High Speed Rail
Attended Leadership Advantage Seminar
April 2011 Attended CA Black Chamber's Leadership Weekend Co-Hosted Education Roundtable with the Camapign for College Opportunities to increase college completion rates Facilitated the Workforce Development
panel for Black American Political Association of California's Fresno conference Advocated for local minority outreach on High Speed Rail activities
On-going Participation in the Mayor's Community Advisory Panel Fresno Black Men & Boys Coalition Regular guest on Valley Black Talk Radio |
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| Your Chamber...Your Investment |
Why does the Chamber matter?
The Chamber is a facilitator.The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce is the only organization in central California whose mission is to build the capacity of African-American businesses and to link businesses to the area's $670 million of annual Black buying power.
Its about more than passing our cards-- We Network. The Chamber provides access to key businesses and decision makers that you need to connect to build your business, organization or agency.
This is your Chamber. The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce is open to your ideas about about how we can make our services, events, and activities have a greater impact. Your membership is welcomed.
What do I get for my membership?- Plugged into Fresno's African-American business community and its strategic partners- Networking events and opportunities to promote your business- Numerous discounts with local and national businesses- An advocate for your business- Discounts to Chamber events, workshops and trainingsIs the Chamber worth my investment?Yes-- Membership starts at just $50! For the same price as a good set of business cards, you can tap into the Chamber's resources and relationships. If you looking for more visibility in Fresno's African-American and business community, we offer additional levels of investment.Join the Chamber today. If you would like more information about how we can tailor a membership package to meet your needs, call us at 559-441-7929.
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| Are You Getting Your Piece of the Supplier Diversity Pie? |  Under GO 156, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) required all investor-owned electric, gas, water and telecommunication utility companies to develop and implement programs to increase the utilization of woman and minority owned businesses. Procurement goals are 5% for women and 15% for minorities.Certification of eligible suppliers was designed to encourage, recruit, and utilize woman and minority owned businesses by participating utilities.
Certification is managed through a central Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a Commission-supervised entity whose primary purpose is to audit and verify the status of woman and minority owned businesses, and to establish and maintain a database of woman, minority, and service disabled veteran owned businesses that is accessible to the CPUC and to participating utilities. The Clearinghouse will be making a presentation at this workshop and will be helping participants submit all documents and information required for evaluation.Think you are ready to get certified to do business with the likes of PG&E, AT&T, and Verizon? Click here for the information.
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