The mission of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council is to significantly increase business relationships between our corporate members and our certified MBEs. We believe that minority business development is a key component of reducing poverty, unemployment, increasing wealth, and integrating American society. You are receiving this email in order to keep you abreast of developments with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Supplier Diversity Issues and Minority Business Development. If you like what you read please share internally and externally.
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| GNEMSDC and State of MA Applying for MBDA Grant | | The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council is applying for a Minority Business Development Agencygrant that would bring a Minority Business Center (MBC) to Boston in 2011. The GNEMSDC has agreed to partner with the State of Massachusetts on this project. The five year federal grant, if approved, would allow the GNEMSDC to open and staff a MBC. The purpose of the MBC is in perfect alignment with the goals and mission of the GNEMSDC and the State of Massachuesetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). The goals are to increase MBE spend with corporate and public sector organizations, and to increase the capacity of MBEs in the region. David Hinson, Director of the MBDA made it clear at our March 3 "Capital and MBE Capacity Building" Summit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston that MBEs need to get larger through joint ventures, strategic alliances and access to appropriate capital. The MBC would assist in this effort to build larger more viable MBEs. The target MBEs for this proposal are: - fast-growth MBEs,
- MBEs that have the capacity grow rapidly (20 percent or more per year),
- large MBEs with the existing capacity to handle multimillion dollar - multiyear contracts with private or public sector organizations,
- MBEs trying to access global markets,
- MBEs that are in high growth targeted markets like green technology, energy, health care and telecommunications.
The MBDA will measure success by the dollar value of contracts, loans and financial investments for MBEs who participate in the MBC program. The proposal is due early next month and we would appreciate MBEs that fall into these areas and would interested in participating in the MBC to write a brief letter on your letterhead simply saying you are interested in learning more. Corporate members can assist our chance of being the winner in this grant competition by writing a brief letter saying that you welcome the opportunity to working with such a center to work with larger MBEs on larger contracts. Banks and financial services companies can also participate in this effort by writing a brief letter saying that your institution stands ready to provide appropriate financial support to MBEs participating in the program. All letters should be addressed to the GNEMSDC and be in by April 27. Click here to see sample letters. The GNEMSDC and the State of Massachusetts are very excited about this program and our collaboration. We have already put together an impressive list of other strategic partners. Your assistance and your comments are welcome. We look forward to bringing a MBC to Boston. The MBC can serve corporate members, and MBEs throughout the GNEMSDC region, so even if you are not in Boston or MA, you are still welcome and eligible to participate. |
| Awards Gala News and Updates |  GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala on April 28 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT just keeps getting better and better. We are very pleased to announce that Fox 5 News Anchor, Ayana Harry will be joining us at the Gala this year as our MC. You can now register for the 2011 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala by visiting our Gala website. We encourage you to purchase your seats early. We have already sold 750 tickets. This is one of the largest business dinners in the region.
To download the Invitation and Response Card Click Here. The Corporate Nominations and MBE Nominations are now in! |
| Upcoming Events, Activities and Information | | If you have events and activities that you want to share with our network send us a PDF file at least two weeks before the event. We reserve the right to publish or not publish events and activities. |
| Opportunities with Corporate Members | | While we are not in the HR business, we are aware of opportunities with several corporate members for positions of employment. If you call the office we would be happy to share that information with you. If you are a corporate member, and want the Council to spread the word about your opportunity we would be happy to do that for you anonymously and for free! |
| Two Free $5,200.00 Checks |
| | The GNEMSDC has received two full scholarships for eligible certified MBEs to attend the Kellogg School of Business Advanced Management Education Program from June 5 through June 11. This program has been credited by a number of MBEs from around the country with being instrumental in taking their businesses to the next level. MBEs interested in attending this outstanding program must complete a GNEMSDC Scholarship Application Form and return that completed form to the office by April 29. This great opportunity is a $5,200.00 value! Think about the return on investment for your $150.00 recertification fee not even counting the value of the program to the development of your business. |
| New And Finally Book Available Soon |  I am very pleased to announce that my second book that chronicles the And Finally column and the various essays on the topic of Minority Business Development will be released as an e-book on April 25. The book "And Finally II & Essays in Minority Business Development" covers the period January 1, 2007 though December 31 2010. This four year period was an exciting time for the Council, the economy, the country, and the world. This book is 312 pages long almost twice the size of the first And Finally book. All of the proceeds for the book will be donated to the GNEMSDC. So this is a great way to have your own personal record of this historic time and support the Council. You can pre-order the book today at http://drfredgnemsdc.blogspot.com/. |
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| And Finally... |  I have written in the column in the past how the fiscal policy process of the U.S. government and I would even argue state government is broken. I realize politics is messy, but there is a better way to fund the priorities of government that is more equitable, efficient and good for the economy. It has become clear to me an millions of Americans that separation of powers has also led to the separation of reason when it comes issues regarding the budget. It would be impossible for leaders in the legislative and executive branches of government to admit, but it appears from the outside looking in, that they are incapable of performing their constitutional duties. Politics gets in the way of their responsibility to lead. I am beginning to believe more and more that like our independent monetary authority vested in the Federal Reserve, we almost need an independent fiscal authority that does not make law but based on the laws enacted by Congress and the President would be responsible for funding those actions. If the Federal Government were a business, and it is not, it would have been put into receivership for mismanagement. The problem is undoubtably complex, but believe it or not the solution is simpler than it seems. For some hints on what that solution is, I refer you back to this column on December 6 & December 13, 2010. In your service, Dr. Fred |
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