BLACK ECONOMIC COUNCIL 

4th Annual Urban Economic Conference

"Economic Recovery; Opening New Markets"

The Black Economic Council (BEC) nationally recognized for its focus on business development and job creation for minority-owned enterprises is hosting its 4th Annual Urban Economic Conference October 15, 2009.  This conference themed "Economic Recovery: Opening New Markets" will focus on access to procurement and supply chain opportunities, micro-lending, credit issues, financial planner, and quality management.  Minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBEs) are among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy.  In a recent statement the President announced to increase access to contracting opportunities for Minority-owned small businesses:

“Small and minority-owned businesses must play a significant role in our efforts to restore economic growth. Small businesses employ half of the nation’s private sector workforce; create a large share of the Nation’s new jobs; and introduce many groundbreaking ideas into the marketplace. It is essential that we provide our Nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in Federal Government contracting.”

                                                                                    - President Barack Obama

Who should attend?

The BEC Urban Economic Conference is a must attend event! If you are a Minority and or women-owned firm you are constantly faced with unique challenges; in order to build a successful business you have to have competitive strategies to overcome these challenges. The BEC through its Supplier Development Initiative is effectively arming Minority-owned businesses with new tools to enable greater success in competing for supplier diversity contracts with both corporate and government entities.  Corporate sponsors along with government agencies will be in attendance to provide in-depth knowledge on how MWBEs can take full advantage of new market opportunities; Hear and interact with corporate executives and government officials from Wells Fargo, Comerica Bank, Verizon, Citibank, AT&T, Bank of America, HSBC, Bank of the West and PG&E

Topics Include:

• Micro Lending
• Supplier Diversity
• Building a Quality Infrastructure
• Access to capital
• Credit Management
• How to Network
• Financial Planning

Comments from those who have attended and participated in our pervious events:

“The BEC’s 3^rd Annual Urban Economic Conference on October 9 this year was electrifying. The day was filled with many relative workshops and panels paralleling today’s economy from financial strategies to supplier diversity to private equity/growth capital and more. I congratulate the BEC on a job well done. I’m looking forward to a repeat performance next year. Excellent!”

Brenda Gambardella
Assistant District Director
Small Business Administration (SBA)

“The BEC conference will offer many guidelines for the Obama administration to promote far greater small business opportunities.” 

Robert Gnaizda
Former General Counsel
The Greenlining Institute

“The Black Economic Council has provided a forum for ideas that advance the policies that foster empowerment for historically underserved communities. It is critical component for regulators and industry alike. I am honored and inspired to be a participant.”

Tim Simon
Commissioner
California Public Utilities Commission

“The BEC’s 3^rd Annual Urban Economic Conference affords corporate, government and non-profit partners the opportunity to engage important community development issues that impact our diverse low-income communities. This conference continues to build upon its success year after year.”

Rebeca Rangel
VP, Community Affairs Regional Manager
Bank of the West