Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce to open local offices by fall

Battle Creek, Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo are three of 17 communities that will see the launch of local black chambers of commerce by the fall of 2011.

The recently formed Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce will expand beyond Detroit and create chambers across the state throughout the year, says President and CEO Ken Harris.

The group’s roots are in the African American Business Alliance and the Detroit Chamber of Commerce. Harris says the group determined there would be advantages to being allied with a national group and created Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce in response.

“We’re going to be part of the Midwest, regional and national discussions,” Harris says.

The group’s mission is to be an advocate for black owned businesses, helping them to obtain the capital and other services and resources they need. The Chamber will work with small companies as they grow into second- and third-stage companies. (Second-stage companies, considered the greatest engines of employment, are those that employ between 10 and 100 workers, have annual sales of at least $1 million and want to grow. Companies usually are considered third stage at $50 million in sales.)

Working to create an environment of economic parity is a primary part of the mission, Harris says. “We want to create jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Despite the state’s economic climate, it’s not an impossible goal, Harris says, considering the 2007 census shows black owned business growing at three times the national rate.

Business owners won’t have to pay twice to be members of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce and local Chambers of Commerce. Joining the local Chamber will give a business owner membership in the Black Chamber of Commerce.

“We will have reciprocity across all the other city chambers,” Harris says.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Ken Harris, Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce