National Urban League Centennial Conference Online: Promotes Economic Development
The National Urban League’s Centennial Celebration is taking place in Washington, DC, July 28-31. I’m watching the online stream of the conference and feel empowered. The conference has brought together some of the “leading business, community, and political figures” in the African American community. I am excited to see that the focus has shifted to promoting strong economic development.
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Quick Links – May 10, 2010
Community Economic Development #ced2
- Long Overdue Change to Help Young Adults Get Coverage
- Where is everyone moving?
- One more youth program in Congress Heights just too much for neighbors [DC]
- New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer
- Poverty, low property values make it difficult to fund city services despite economic development [PA]
- Maryland already is home to six Fortune 500 companies. For now, at least, it will have to do without a seventh
- Santa Clara County Officials Want to Take Toys From Fat Kids [CA]
- Study: Raleigh-Durham area ranks high for biotech jobs, pay
- Housing advocates warned Councilmembers that the money used to build and renovate affordable units in the District will be completely out of money by the end of this year. [DC]
- Group opposes Wal-Mart plans for Marple center [PA]
- Virginia Beach expands development office
- Loudoun County’s Economic Development Focus Goes National [VA]
- Secretary of State of Maryland Welcomes Mina Mar Group to Maryland International Incubator Program [MD]
- Landrieu Sends Letter to SBA in Support of Small Business Owners Impacted By Oil Spill Disaster
- About 40% of freelancers had trouble getting paid in 2009
- The Charlotte Regional Partnership – as well as the state’s six other regional economic-development groups – face budget cuts [NC]
- Energy Efficiency Grants, $125K, Awarded by SBA to Assist Small Businesses
- Greensboro, High Point economic development groups to have first joint session
Technology
- Apple Confirms AT&T Has iPhone Exclusivity Until 2012
- Twitter to Launch Twitter Business Center [SCREENSHOTS]
- Everything You Need To Know About Who’s Using Twitter
- Surprising statistics about Twitter : 87% of Americans know about Twitter but only 7% use it
- Life in 2020: Your Dating History on Display and Other Faintly Disturbing Predictions
- 20 Twitter Directories to Find More Friends and Followers
- SkedgeMe Gives Small Biz Simple, Social Scheduling App
Snowtorious B.I.G, Snowmaggedon, SnOMG – What you can do to help
The Washington Metropolitan Area has been inundated with snow for almost an entire week. Schools, businesses, even the Federal Government have shut down. Today, local jurisdictions, called in the snowplows because the conditions have been too hazardous. It’s bad out there people.
While many of us are taking advantage of this time off from work or using this time to telecommute there are many that will be suffering over the next few weeks. ShannonRenee pointed out in her Twitter post that as we’re praying for the homeless we need to pray for small businesses that are also hit hard by this storm.
This made me think of what we can do to support our communities during the aftermath of one of the worst snow storms in D.C.’s history:
Support Local Businesses
Local small businesses were already struggling during these challenging economic times, but to add insult to injury they have lost a considerable amount of business and revenue. This includes local street vendors, small businesses, transportation companies, childcare providers, and so many more.
What you can do to help:
Take time to bypass the big chains like Wal-Mart and Target and shop at local convenience shops and small businesses. Spend your dollars at businesses that directly impact our local community. Try purchasing your liquor from the local corner store, buying gas from the small independent gas station, taking your computer issues to a local business not Best Buy, dining at a locally-owned restaurant instead of a big chain establishment or purchase your coffee from a local vendor and skip Starbucks for a day (yes, I recognize this may be challenging!).
Support Low-Income Families
Large school systems in the area are filled with students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches. In the D.C. school system, where more than 70 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced price lunch, the school day was the only opportunity for children to have a decent meal. The goal of the free and reduced lunch program is to protect the health and well being of the children by providing nutritious school meals every day. Many businesses have been forced to close due to inclement weather forcing low-income workers, who tend to be hourly and not eligible for leave,to see smaller paychecks. If they don’t work, they don’t make money.
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