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December 16, 2006

By Arthur J. Gass, President

he Re-Genesis of Economic

and Community Development

within

the

depressed

communities of Lake County

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County will be the leading

agency to

partner with

existing business entities to

develop a

comprehensive

strategic

initiative to turn this tide of

poverty, at

minimum,

to a level of self

sufficiency.

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County is organized

to achieve

the

two

objectives:

Preserving the competitive enterprise system of

business by:

• creating a better understanding and

appreciation of

the

importance

business

people and a concern for

their problems;

• educating the business community and representing them in

city,

ounty, state

and national legislative and political affairs;

• preventing or addressing controversies which are detrimental

expansion and growth of

business and the community

•

creating a greater appreciation of the value of investment of

substance

and self on behalf

of the interests of competitive

business;

2) Promoting business and community development growth by:

• promoting economic programs designed to strengthen and

expand

the income potential

of all member businesses in

Lake County

• promoting programs of civic, social and cultural nature

which

are

designed to increase

the functional and image

of the community

• discovering and correcting abuses which prevent the

promotion

business expansion

and community growth.

The problem grows worse each day. The government has spent an

immeasurable

amount of

dollars trying to reverse the

trend, but the cycle

continues to spiral

upward. To compliment their

efforts they have concluded

that

by using faith-

based

agencies (the local churches) as a

channel to send

even

more money, that

somehow this will reverse this spiral of social

disintegration.

While I can appreciate the government’s effort, social programs will not

solve

the

economic

and social ills within the inner

cites. If we would be

earnest with

our

analysis and speak the

truth, these programs have only

been a spoon of

water

this vast fire that is burning out of

control.

As the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, we want to take the

initiative

and lead the

community into the realm of

inclusion in economic

development. I

believe we can no longer sit

by and blame others for our

plight.

We must take the

lead

and lead our people to economic

prosperity

just as we

took the lead and led

them too social acceptance in society

during

the

era of

the civil rights movement.

Just as we did then, we do now, we need help, and I believe people will

incline to

help us when they see us taking the initiative to do

something

yourself.

So that begs the

question:

How Do we really grow Minority owned Businesses so

they

can be an

intricate

part of

mainstream

development???

As a minority community, we must position ourselves with the pool of

talent,

and

the

consortium of minority owned businesses to take advantage

this

interest

of economic

motivation as an

opportunity for economic

development. In

other

words, we must prepare

ourselves to be included in

mainstream economic

development.

As a competitive community within Lake County, the minority community

must

a part of this

healthy and vibrant economic

structure that is

flourishing in this

wealthy county. We must

cultivate those individuals

with

the leadership skills as

leaders, to champion the cause for the

sharing of the

wealth.

Every business enterprise must have the flexibility to change its course

when

the

hand writing

of failure is on the wall. Any

competitive community

must

realize that

their minority business

programs must be sustainable,

must be

market driven and

increa

se overall community

capacity.

The success factors, that must drive minority business

development is:

Select the Right Target Business – Our focus must be on the minority

businesses that

display the capability to grow.

Remember, those

businesses

that

grow are the ones that will

create jobs, they will create wealth and

inspire

businesses that have the potential to

grow also. We must

seek

out those

individuals with a track record of success, a growth

orientation

and a business

that provides value. The

development of these

growth-

oriented

businesses will

create the environment for more

successful

minority businesses.

2. Develop Realistic Expectations – The model for growing sizable

minority

businesses

must be on quality and growth opportunity, not

quantity. The

Mission

of any business must be

clear and expectations must

at a

reasonable level.

Your budgeted goals

must be realistic

simply

because you

will

commit to there

achievement. Growing any business is a

focus on the

realistic

potential to grow,

create jobs, wealth.

3. Build Investment Strategies – In business the two things that are

consistent is:

1.) Deals

take longer to happen than you anticipate and

2.)

business grows slower than you expect.

Promote, Align and Enforce Core Business Principles – Businesses that

demand

significant amount of Research &

Development or demand an

economy of scale

that will take

a finite time to create are often good

candidates

for subsidies.

Always remember, that

business is fundamentally,

based on both

the creation of

value and a business model, which

are

designed to generate

profits. If there is

no value created and no profits

generated, there is

no reason

to invest in that

business.

Make a Paradigm Shift from Social to Economic - We do not need

leaders

who

bring a

social agenda, a social

background, or social thinking.

The

outcomes

will

look like welfare

programs more than economic

development

initiatives.

The motivation should and must be economic and a forum for the community

prosper

together. With this motivation, it will

be easy to attract the

interest of

important stake-holders if

they have a clear, compelling and

profit reason to be

interested.

Do Not Misdiagnose - Although access to capital, access to markets and

access

technical assistance are critical areas

and can be treated with a

strategic

program, the root

cause to the problem of success is credibility and

actionable

relationships or networking. It’s

not always what you know, but

it’s

who you

know. If you are going to run with the big dogs,

you

must

prepare for

this

marathon.

Ignore the Skeptics – There is a mind-set that is within both

communities

and

must be

addressed and corrected. The

historical baggage

of race in our

country

has

embedded

much of Black-America’s minds that

blacks want trust

each other

and want help one another.

For the most part,

the white

communities have

created a sense that no matter what we do, we

will never

make this situation

better. The premise for this is that you have

always viewed

results from fail social

agendas and

not investment

strategies. Why do we

promote myths that

are

meaningless?

The bottom-line is: if we are going to accelerate the growth of the most

accelerate-able

minority businesses for the purpose

of building the

economic

capacity of the community, they

must be lead by people with the

experience

and

the expertise to

make that happen.

To change the way we do minority business development in our

current

environment takes

three key elements

1. A strong leader with vision of the next evolution of race and business

this county.

Someone needs to bring the

various stakeholders together

and

garner the support, set the

new tempo and create the bold new vision

that

includes

every square mile and every segment

of the population in the

economic

development. As the Black Chamber of Commerce of

Lake

County

want to

earn that spot. As the euphoria is building all across this nation

with

the

formation of Black

Chambers we must market our successes.

We have networks established on the State and National levels to expand

and

enhance this

effort.

2. A shift in thinking, conversion and action from a social construct to

investment. Until

communities treat minority

business as an investment it

will

struggle to make the type of

progress needed to keep a community

competitive.

Minority

Owned Businesses must be seen

as equally important

other critical

community investments.

3. Minority business development needs a coordinated plan. Everything

care about has

a plan on how we will get it

done. Not only does the

coordinated

plan insure that we get it

done, it serves as a tool how we will

measure success

and

how we will continue to make it

better. Competitive

communities of the

future will demonstrate early, the reality of a new

way

looking at the growth

minority businesses by creating a plan to make it

work.

President Gives Inaugural Speech
"Room is Speechless"

Dear Chamber Members,

We are proud to announce the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce won 2 Illinois Dept of Transportation supportive services contracts. We
won the entire state for technical assistance (Districts 1 - 9) and we won (Districts 4 - 6) for Business Development Assistance.
http://dot.state.il.us/sbe/ssassistance.html.

This is a huge win for the Black Business Community. Special thanks to Larry Ivory former Chairman/CEO of the Peoria Black Chamber of
Commerce it was their Construction Capacity Building Program produced the best numbers for black contractors in the state on IDOT
related contracts. The Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, Inc. was very involved in submitting this proposal along with other
Chambers in the state. More info will be shared as it becomes available.

We are heading to the National Black Chamber of Commerce 15th Annual Convention in New Orleans, La. July 25-28, 2007.
www.nationalbcc.org The Illinois Black Chamber was selected State Black Chamber of the Year Yes!!!by the National Black Chamber of
Commerce and we will receive an award at the National Convention next week. We are one of presenters at the convention. Congrats
Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and our President Mr. Larry Ivory.

Sincerely,
Arthur J. Gass Sr.
President
Black Chamber of Commerce Lake County, Inc.
July 2007

Black Expo & Upscale Art Show Update

For Immediate Release:
For additional information contact Elroy Reed 847-473-5501

Black Expo to be held October 20 at CLC

(August 15, 2007, North Chicago, Illinois)

The People’s Voice Newspaper and Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake
County proudly announce the inaugural Black Expo and Upscale Art Show
of Lake County. This historical event will take place October 20, 2007, from
10am to 4 pm, at the College of Lake County, 19351 West Washington,
Grayslake Campus in the Gymnasium.

The Black Expo and Upscale Art Show is a consumer event and open to the
public. At the Expo, area businesses will showcase their products and
services.
Featured will be African American artists and authors who will be available
to sign their works. Some invited artists and authors include Elbert Franklin,
Bruce Brown, Rhonda Gray, Yvonne Pitts and Eleanor Taylor Bland.
As part of the event, there will be an entertainment stage which will include
Gospel Music, a Talent Contest, Juz Jokin Comedy Club and Rhythm and
Blues Music.
Nationally known motivational speaker and author Andrew Brown will co-host
the event along with syndicated radio personality Effie Rolfe.
The Lake Forest Care Coach will be on hand for health check-ups. There will
be programming for children. There will be food, fun and information for the
entire family.
Everyone is invited.
The event is sponsored by the College of Lake County, PACTIV, Inc., EDS,
Inc, Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, The People’s Voice, with
media sponsors V103 and WNUA radio.

A limited number of booths are still available. For more information, please
contact Cheryl Dunlap, event coordinator, at 847-473-5501. You may also
find out more information or register as a vendor by going to the Black
Chamber of Commerce website at www.bccoflakecounty.com.

IDOT Contracts Awarded to IL Black Chamber

Black Businesses and Communities:

The 2nd Annual Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce convention was a
success. We would like to thank our board members, sponsors, State of
Illinois Departments (Dept of Transportation (I.D.O.T) - Central Management
Services (CMS), Dept of Commerce and Economic Opportunities (DCEO),
Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA),Illinois Dept of Employment
Security (IDES) ,Dept of Public Health attendees, speakers and black
business owners. Special thanks to our fearless national leader Harry C.
Alford, Pres/CEO, National Black Chamber and Kay Debow, Executive
V.P.-National Black Chamber and Chuck Debow, Special Projects
Co-Ordinator, National Black Chamber-John Harmon-Trenton, NJ
African-American Chamber of Commerce-Jerry Mitchell-North Alabama,
Pres/CEO-North Alabama-Black Chamber of Commerce and IL Senior
Senator Dick Durbin and Congressmen Danny K. Davis (7th Congressional
District) for attending and supporting our efforts in Illinois.

Several Announcements were made at the convention.

1). National Black Chamber Pres/CEO Harry C. Alford announced that he
would lead a nationwide tour along with Larry D. Ivory, Pres/CEO-Illinois
Black Chamber of Commerce and Arness Dancy, Pres/CEO-Englewood
Black Chamber of Commerce to showcase best practices of the Illinois
Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. We will start in San Diego, CA where
black business owners received $0 dollars in Dept of Transportation
contracts.

2) George Curry, former editor emerge magazine will lead our efforts along
with Lou Ransom, Publisher-Chicago Defender to merge black media
along with black businesses. We will start in Illinois and move around the
country.

3) Larry D. Ivory, Pres/CEO announced Arness Dancy, Pres/CEO -
Englewood Black Chamber will lead a delegation of Black Chamber
Presidents for training (Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Section 3 of
the HUD Act). We will fly to Washington,DC for training under the National
Black Chamber of Commerce and a meeting with Secretary Alphonso
Jackson - HUD.

Pictures from the convention can be viewed at
http://www.anointedphotography.com/ click on view photos, select BCC or
2nd Annual Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce Convention - enter your
email and all the pics from the convention will appear.

Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and Illinois NAACP has forged an
alliance on economic and social issues. Progress in the making. Thanks
Don Jackson, Pres/CEO Illinois NAACP

We have partnered with three of our National Members who are three of
largest Black Real Estate Developers and Construction Companies in the
world. KBK Enterprises, Smoot Construction and Peebles Development
Corp. We will focus on developing black communities here in Chicago.
Note: KBK won $250 million of the $1.2 billion in contracts recently let the
Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) to rebuild New Orleans. We look
forward in working together for a better future.

Save the date: 15th Anniversary of the National Black Chamber of
Commerce, Inc. We will celebrate in Washington, DC at the French
Embassy in May (2008). You don't want to miss this historic celebration.
The National Black Chamber of Commerce is directly responsible for black
business owners receiving over $4 billion in contracts and other
opportunities. Thanks so much Harry and Kay for all you do for the black
diaspora.

Best Regards,

Arness Dancy, Pres/CEO, Englewood Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc
(www.englewoodbcc.org)
Regional V.P. - Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (www.ilbcc.org)
Arthur J. Gass Sr. (www.bccoflakecounty.com)

2nd Annual Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce
Convention was a great Success

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