A commitment for full participation
How some chambers are taking major steps to include minorities
Minority businesses represent a largely untapped resource for chambers, but getting them engaged can be
a challenge. With more and more minority-focused chambers popping up across the country, the most
successful way for traditional chambers to involve more minorities has been to tailor programs and
services directly towards them. Here’s a look at a few of the avenues that chambers are taking to make in
roads among minority business owners.
Learning to speak the language
The Springdale-Fayetteville corridor in Arkansas was ranked first in a Milken Institute "Best Performing
Metros" report as a consequence of the area’s impressive job growth. “Our MSA (including Springdale,
Fayetteville, Rogers, and Bentonville) has grown 28% since 1995,” says Perry Webb, President and
CEO of the Springdale (AR) Chamber of Commerce. “We ranked first in both the new jobs created
and the economic environment categories.”
Much of this growth came from new minority businesses. So the chamber began to respond in earnest. All
business development information on the chamber's newly redesigned website (Springdale.com) is now
available in Spanish, as well as English. They also started an educational assistance program and
expanded the existing bilingual capabilities of Springdale.com and other communications vehicles. They
are also considering comping the minority’s first year of chamber membership.
More significantly, the chamber created a new minority business liaison position. They hired Margarita
Lund, a popular Hispanic radio personality. “Margarita is interviewing over 100 minority business owners
about their priorities,” says Webb. “We're committed to action based on the results of the completed
interviews. Now that the word has hit the street about our new staff, we have significantly increased the
daily calls received that need a translator.”
Council-ing minority members
In 2002, the Rockford Area Chamber formed a Community Outreach Committee to support, among
others, its area’s minority-owned businesses. The committee hosted several minority-owned and
minority-managed business forums that same year. As a result of the input they received, the chamber
decided to form the Minority Business Council.
“The Community Outreach Committee acts as the steering committee for the Minority Business Council,”
says Mary Cacioppi, Community Development Manager for the Rockford (IL) Area Chamber of
Commerce. “The members of the committee are encouraged to attend the meetings of the Minority
Business Council. They also work with the chairman of the council to develop additional workshops,
programs and services for the MBC.” The participants make a commitment to attend and participate in
monthly meetings, to share "best practices" and to help in the recruitment of new Minority Business
Council members.
“For the past two years, we have offered a trial membership to all minority businesses,” says Cacioppi.
“During the three month trial, they are welcome to participate in all free chamber events, including
committee and council meetings, Good Morning Rockford and Business After Hours. We want them to
‘try on the Chamber’ to experience the benefits of membership firsthand.”
The chamber also premiered the first Minority Enterprise Luncheon and Business Showcase. Over 50
minority-owned businesses participated in the expo; more than 200 chamber members attended the
luncheon. They are also working on creating a Multi-Cultural Resource Guide that will include
information on ethnic festivals, organizations, events, and contacts to showcase Rockford as an
International city.
Reaching out to minority businesses
In Florence (SC), the chamber is linked to a database that provides access to minority and woman-owned
businesses statewide. The chamber also publishes a directory of minority- and women-owned small
businesses, hosts a women’s expo and offer membership discounts to any member of the Downtown
Business Association.
But the Florence chamber’s most direct work with minorities is their “Building Bridges” program, a sixweek long small group experience focusing on issues of racial and cultural diversity. “The Building
Bridges Committee, started as our Human Relations Task Force in 1997,” says Gerry S. Madison,
Director of Small & Minority Business Division, Florence (SC) Chamber of Commerce. “The
committee adapted the 8-week Asheville (NC) program on community racial diversity. Our instruction
manual is tailored to current issues affecting Florence and the surrounding area.”
This successful chamber-run program has just completed its sixth year. While it focuses primarily on
diversity and community building, it has recently begun to address topics such as how the war in Iraq
impacts the Florence community, the pressing issue of work-to-life balance, the latest U.S. immigration
laws, prevailing workplace concerns and the latest trends in economic development.
Strengthening the whole community
While methods may vary, the goal is the same. Chambers want to attract minority businesses to become a
part of the network. Without their participation, the chamber lacks a vital portion of the very business
community it serves. By targeting their minority businesses with specialized activities, chambers are
appealing directly to the minority business owner and forging a relationship. Regardless of the incentive,
the minority business owner is looking for the same factors any other business wants—influence and a
strong network of peers.