August is National Black Business Month + $200 Million Stadium Project
August is National Black Business Month. I've pasted two recent emails below for your consideration. The first is from Douglas Mapp at ThinkUp with links to many important resources, and the second is from Terrence Carter at Knoxville Area Urban League with an invitation to the Seize the Opportunity event at the end of the month to pursue contracts for the $200 million multi-use stadium project.
Onward and upward!
Brandon
From Douglas Mapp at ThinkUp:
August is National Black Business Month, and there’s no better time than now to shine a spotlight on Black-owned businesses, big and small, right here in our community.
I’ve pulled together several websites and apps to help you locate, check out, and support resilient and ingenious business owners.
WeBuyBlack: WeBuyBlack is the largest online marketplace for Black-owned businesses.
Knoxville Black Business Directory: The Knoxville Black Business Directory represents chefs, barbers, small-scale manufacturers, and creatives from all over Knoxville.
Black Business Green Book: Black Business Green Book is a directory to help you find Black businesses to patronize.
Support Black Owned: Support Black Owned is a search-engine for Black-owned businesses. Use the SBO app or website to find a company through the state search, category search, or other site search options.
You can also support Black-owned businesses by leaving positive online reviews, sharing and engaging on social media, purchasing gift cards, and donating to organizations that support Black business owners. You may also want to check out the Fifteen Percent Pledge and sign the petition.
Let’s support local Black-owned businesses this month and beyond. I will be, and I hope you’ll join me.
Regards,
Douglas Mapp, CCDP
Founder
9311 S. Northshore Dr.
Knoville, TN 37922
865-446-0295
From Terrence Carter at Knoxville Area Urban League:
I would like to invite you to attend the “Seize the Opportunity” business Match-Making event on August 30th from 8:30-10:30am. This event is designed for contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers to have an opportunity to discuss teaming and joint ventures to secure work on the Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium Project. This project will be transformational for a community in need of permanent jobs which pay a livable wage and black business ownership and growth. This event coupled with your input in identifying policies and practices that result in disparities is vitally important information that should be included in the City of Knoxville’s Disparity Study. Here is the link to share your thoughts: Economic Opportunities Disparities
Steve Davis, President of GEM Community Development Group, Frank Rothermel, President of Denark Construction, and Partners Development Group and their project teams will be available to discuss the project timeline and future workforce and trade skill needs, and contract opportunities. This will be the Urban League’s official kick-off of our minority DBE recruitment campaign. Our goal is to recruit, train, and prepare as many minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned disadvantaged business enterprises in the East Knoxville community. We are striving to ensure a minimum of 15% minority participation in this $200 million project. During the match-making event, we will provide information regarding our minority DBE training program and capacity building.
Register today for Seize the Opportunity Match-Making Event on August 30th by clicking this link: https://www.thekaul.org/
With gratitude,
Terrence Carter, Vice President
Economic and Business Development
Knoxville Area Urban League @ www.thekaul.org
1514 East Fifth Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
P: 865-524-5511 Ext: 3
