Minority Business Opportunity Day To Attract Big Crowds

LA DWPs Board President Ken Lombard and National Minority Supplier Development Council President Dr. Harriet Michel are keynote speakers at two-day event, which will offer unique minority business funding opportunities for the first time.

   Los Angeles, Feb. 14, 2001 -- The Los Angeles Convention Center will come alive with minority business opportunities February 14th and 15th, when the two-day, 32nd Annual Minority Business Opportunity Trade Fair (www.mbod.org) kicks into high gear. The fair is produced by the Southern California Regional Purchasing Councils (SCRPC), Los Angeles, a non profit (501(c)(3)) California Public Benefit Corporation. Established in 1975, SCRPC represents the local corporate outreach to minority enterprises in Southern California.
     The theme this year is 'eCommerce, Marketplace to the World," said Peter Wiersma, president, Southern California Regional Purchasing Councils, Los Angeles. Each year, SCRPC member corporations award $3.0-$4.0 billion to local minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs), while the entire National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) network procures more than $40 Billion annually from MBEs.
     SCRPC is one of 39 regional councils in the NMSDC network. NMSDC provides extended outreach to members of SCRPC and access to more than 3,500 corporations and more than 15,000 certified minority-owned businesses.
     Wiersma says the two-day trade fair will introduce for the first time the Business Consortium Fund," (BCF), a fund that based out of New York that works with councils and provides funding for minority-owned businesses, which have contracts with major corporations in America. In addition to loans, lease financing, working capital and equity are some of the flexible financing plans being offered in an Alternative Financing" workshop. Another program offered is B2B eCommerce," which involves negotiating the Big Deals" with Corporate America.                
     Two keynote speakers at this years event, includes Ken Lombard, president, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power, board of Commissioners, and president, Johnson Development Company/Magic Johnson Theaters; and Dr.Harriet Michel, president, National Minority Supplier Development Council, New York. Los Angeles, one of the largest cities of minority-owned businesses plays host to the national convention in 2002, she said. Im happy to be a keynote speaker at the 32nd Annual Trade Fair to help create a buzz for next years national meeting in Los Angeles."
    "Women-owned and minority-owned businesses are the fastest growing corporations in the business sector," said SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez. They contribute to the nations economy and the workforce. It is our job at the SBA to ensure that they receive their fair share of contracting opportunities in the $200 billion federal marketplace and to keep those doors of opportunity open."
About Southern California Regional Purchasing Councils
   Southern California Regional Purchasing Councils (SCRPC) is a non profit (501(c)(3)) California Public Benefit Corporation. Established in 1975, SCRPC represents the local corporate outreach to minority enterprises in Southern California. SCRPCs mission is to expand business opportunities for minority suppliers and to encourage mutually beneficial economic links between minority enterprises and corporate members.