Economic Opportunities Working For You!

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Anne Arundel County, Inc., is on the move. In January 2005, a breakfast was held at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, Annapolis, Maryland. Among the participants were Mr. Alvin Collins, Chief Of Staff, County Executive Office, Anne Arundel County. Dr. Eric Smith, ED.D., Superintendent of Public Schools, AACPS, several school board members, AACPS, Sheriff George F. Johnson, and Mr. Gibbons from the Arundel Community Development Services, Inc.

The Black Chambers has added its voice to the Bates Development project. A project that has already awarded 15.2 million dollars in contracts. Of the 15.2 million dollars awarded blacks have received slightly more than 3.1 million dollars in contracts. This falls within the states MBE’S program of 7% for blacks. Specifically, the Chamber seeks- to improve the procurement program in respect to African American. The Chamber remains in dialogue with the school Board of Anne Arundel County Public School. The School Board of Anne Arundel County having approved a policy that redefines and ushers in a new direction for the MBE program hopefully, will go forward in choosing an agent/agency to monitor and to renew its procurement program. The Black Chamber of Commerce has invested considerable energy towards increasing procurement opportunities for all. MBE’S. Additionally, the Chamber continues to be a vehicle for networking and for the promotion of small businesses, specifically African American businesses. In pursuit of said goals the Black Chamber has sponsered several events. Among them:

1. A Crab Festival
2. A Jazz Festival
3. An Economic Summit
4. A Christmas Bonanza

In addition to these items, the Black Chamber of Commerce has lend  its voice along with that of Rev. Johnny Calhoun and Alder Person Classic Hoyle in lifting up the Parole Development project.

The Black Chamber meets every 4th Thursday of the month at Asbury United Methodist Church, 87 West Street, Annapolis, MD, at 8:30 a.m., please feel free to join us. Remember the Black Chamber of Commerce of Anne Arundel County, Inc. is working for you.