Minority Business Development Program

In 2003, Chamber leaders re-established a Minority Business Development program. The goal of the program is to arm minority and women business owners with the tools necessary to compete on a larger scale. Another goal is to stimulate business relationships between minority and women-owned businesses and major employers.

Objectives of the Chamber's Minority Business Development program:

  • To assist minority and women business-owners in developing a greater understanding and appreciation for the pre-requisites and requirements for procuring business with medium to large-sized organizations and companies.
  • To introduce strategies for small businesses to increase the size and amount of contracts for which minority and women-owned companies can compete.
  • To develop a full understanding and appreciation for the local certification process, as well as the other certifications that are available to minority and women-owned companies.
  • To address any “unique” issues associated with minority business development.
  • To provide resources to assist minority and women-owned businesses in becoming successful.

Each element of the Chamber's Minority Business Development Program is underwritten by Jackson Energy Authority and all services are free to minority and women company-owners throughout West Tennessee . Jackson Energy Authority began its own Local Small Business Diversity Program (LSBDP) in 1999 in an effort to increase its supplier diversity. This partnership has grown over the last several years, and has been greatly beneficial to the area's minority and women-owned companies. For more information on Jackson Energy Authority's LSBDP, click here: http://www.jaxenergy.com/about_us/diversity_program.php

Below are the various components of the Minority Business Development Program:

Training Opportunities

Several educational sessions are held throughout the year on a variety of topics including Marketing, Finance and Doing Business with Major Employers. These seminars incorporate numerous elements including: licensing, bonding, certification, insurance, bid requests, requests for proposal, negotiating prices, joint ventures, strategic alliances, cash-flow management, receivable financing, advertising, sales calls, networking and sales referrals.

Certification

The certification process recognizes excellence in business standards. Many large companies will only do business with certified companies. Being certified sends a message of credibility and competence to those wanting to do business with a company. In order to qualify for certification, a company must meet at least one of the following two classifications:

  • Must be at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a minority or a group of minorities who are African American, Native American, Hispanic American or Asian-Pacific American and is a United States Citizen.
  • A woman-owned business is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or a group of women who are United States citizens.

In addition, the certification ensures that all necessary licenses and paperwork are in order and an on-site visit is made by Fields and Associates.

Major Employers Buyer-Supplier Event

Held each November, the Major Employers Buyer-Supplier event invites major employers to meet with licensed minority and women-owned businesses to talk about business opportunities. Companies will have an opportunity to sit down face-to-face with the area's largest employers and share information about their products and services.

Procurement Seminar

Each year, the Chamber partnered with Congressman John Tanner to offer the first Procurement Conference for West Tennessee. This conference brought together minority and women-owned businesses with federal, state, and local government agencies. The goal of the conference is to foster business partnerships between government and small business.

Joining forces with for this conference are the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Energy Authority, University of Tennessee Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the Tennessee Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise, Tennessee Valley Authority, First Tennessee Bank and the Small Business Administration.

The conference was designed to help minority and women-owned businesses grow and enhance their ability to do business with government agencies. It also provided aforum for direct exchange of information and ideas between government agencies and small businesses .

Roundtables

Jackson Energy Authority and West Tennessee Healthcare each host a Minority Roundtable throughout the year. The roundtables are designed for a small group of minority and women business-owners to meet on a regular basis and develop peer-to-peer relationships. The two hosts bring in a variety of special guests and speakers who share expertise in a variety of areas. The goals of the roundtables are for business-owners to network with each other, share challenges and opportunities, and to learn about ways to make their businesses more successful.

Directory

Each year, the Chamber publishes a directory of area minority and women-owned businesses. These are distributed to area major employers, other minority companies, and others. Copies of the directory are available by request.

Networking

The Chamber's Minority Business Development Program has been extremely successful in creating opportunities for minority and women business-owners to network with each other, as well as with other businesses Each seminar, training session, roundtable, luncheon, etc., offers a superb networking environment and an opportunity for people to make contacts and share product or service information with others outside the normal business circle.

If you would like more information on the Chamber's Minority Business Development Program, please contact Mandy White at 731-423-2200 or email mwhite@jacksontn.com.