P age C 13
T he P ortland O bserver • S eptember 28, 1994
Economic Development Specialist
Addresses NAACP Deficit
Regional fund raisers, electronic
memberships and a football classic
are among the innovative solutions
the NAACP is examining to reduce
an approximated $3 million short
fall, according to economic develop
ment consultant L.R. Byrd.
Byrd, also the creator of the
successful Black Dollar day drive, is
most recognized as the national leader
who steered the NAACP to the adop
tion of economic development as a
major platform for African-Ameri
cans (beyond education and poli
tics). “Our well-publicized debt is
something that must be addressed
L.R. Byrd.
strategically, with the employment
of contemporary resources,” Byrd
said. “We are working to address
decreasing the time frame necessary
to process memberships and dona
tions. We are looking forward to a
series of major fund raisers and the
electronic enrollment of new mem
bers (perhaps through existing auto
matic teller machines and/or tele
phone cards), as well as a football
classic in Atlanta, Charlotte or Balti
more.”
Amidst the most recent change
in administration, Byrd also expects
to be instrumental in other projects
designed to increase the cash flow of
the NAACP.
Byrd Explores Minority
Perspective
On Information Superhighway
African Americans can do bet
ter than four percent. That is what a
Greenville, SC-based business de-
“While the Federal Communi
cations Commission (FCC) is stating
its priorities to include ownership,
Management, employment and edu
cation opportunities for African
Americans, this should not be an
other instance where we sit and wait
for a government agency to solve
problems or open doors. Having done
so before, we now see minorities
controlling only approximately three
percent of the commercial radio and
television stations and less than one
percent of the cable operators and
telecommunications companies.”
During auctions earlier this year,
minorities secured almost 24% of the
regional interactive television li
censes. These, however, are consid
ered less profitable than the other
licenses. Minorities did not secure,
for example, any of the 10 nation
wide paging frequencies that were
available. “Minorities attempted to
bid, but the level of bidding was
exclusive. While we are making great
strides, we still operate from an eco
nomic deficit in Black America.”
Industry accounts report that 20
million Americans are using cellular
phones. Byrd says African Ameri
cans represent a significant portion
of that number and have even greater
numbers for interactive television and
computer use at home. “I am encour
aging financially stable African
American business owners to look
into the telecommunications indus
try, overall,” he explains.
Broad band licenses (accommo
dating both cellular phones and com
puters) are expected to be auctioned
later this year. Byrd advises that Af
rican Americans pool theirresources,
including “intellectual capital” and
look for strategic alliances with ma
jority-owned companies to compete
effectively in this multi-billion dol
lar industry.
Byrd asserts that the computer
databases accessed through the new
technology also will assist African
Americans in meeting new custom
ers and expanded access to research
and other pertinent information.
While one recent survey attests
that nearly half of all small business
owners are aware of the intent of the
information superhighway, another
study reveals that corporate execu-
INCOME TAX
AND BOOKKEEPING
SERVICES
Valerie Curie, L.T.C., E.A.
Liscenced Tax Consultant • “Form er 1RS A g en t”
5425 NE Garfield Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97211
Approval of the final federal
waiver needed to start the Plus wel-
fare-to-work initiative in six Oregon
counties was announced by Donna
Shalala, U.S. Health and Human
Services secretary.
The waiver means that begin
ning within the next month, selected
welfare recipients will be assigned
jobs with private employers and re
ceive wages instead of welfare grants
and food stamps in Clackamas, Wash-
ington. Baker, Gilliam, Lincoln and
Malheur counties.
“In approving Oregon’s waiver,
the President is making good on part
of his pledge to end welfare as we
know it,” Oregon Gov. Barbara Rob
erts said today. “Now, we will have
another tool for getting Oregonians
from a welfare check to paycheck.
This was made possible by the hard
work of the Oregon Department of
Human Resources and the state’s
congressional delegation, particu
table as partners in dealing with
changing economic forces,” said
Russell. “It was an honor to serve the
city in this capacity.”
“Prosperous Portland” focuses
on integrated strategies and action
items that address the city’s business
clim ate, business developm ent,
workforce development, and physi
cal development and infrastructure.
It also calls for active partnerships
with key neighborhoods for redevel
opment of specifically targeted areas
of the city.
A steering com m ittee o f the
B usiness R oundtable has been re
sponsible for the actual develop
m ent and drafting o f the do cu
m ent, form ally titled “ P rosper
ous P ortland, Integrated Policies
for Jobs and the E conom y." F ol
low ing 14 m onths of w ork, 70
public discussions and an num
ber o f public hearings, the d o cu
m ent underw ent revisions that
were incorporated into the draft
approved today.
Katz thanked members of the
city council and all those involved in
developing the policy saying, “this is
a long-term plan that will take a long
term commitment, but for the first
time in our city’s history we now
have an economic development plan
that addresses the concerns of all
Portlanders, particularly those tradi
tionally left out of economic pros
perity." said Katz. “Your hard work
will pay off in making our city eco
nomically stronger and more vibrant
for years to come," said Katz.
larly Congressman Wyden and Sena
tor Hatfield.”
Earlier, Secretary of Agricul
ture Mike Espy approved a federal
waiver to permit “cashing out" food
stamps as part of the Plus Pilot. State
officials estimate that 1,000 families
will participate in the six counties.
Plus joins Oregon’s nearly four-
year-old program, which is now help
ing more than 1,300 welfare house
holds a month find employment. The
pilot will be managed by the Adult
and Family Services Division of the
Oregon Department of Human Re
sources.
Recipients will train foremploy-
ment and be placed in nine-month,
on-the-job training positions in pri
vate and non-profit businesses. In
stead of receiving welfare benefits
and food stamps, participants will be
paid at least the state minimum wage.
Benefits will be no less than those
provided by public assistance.
Thanks
to all the Minority
and Women Business
Enterprises
who are partners in the growth
L and maintenance of our A
beautiful City.
Geneva’s
Shear Perfection
Barber - Beauty Salon
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
Business Award of Excellence
Best of Portland (Willamette Week)
Hair - Nails • Pedicure
Facials • Shoe Shine
5601 NE ML KingBlvd.
Hours: 9-6 Mon-Fri; 8-6 Sat
503-285-1159
“We Do All Type Hair”
LET OUR NEXT “AWARD”
GO TO YOUR COMPANY!
I f you are an M /W B E company providing construction services,
equipment, supplies, o r professional services,
THE CITY OF PORTLAND WANTS TO DO
BUSINESS WITH YOU!
The C IT Y OF P O R T L A N D is committed to taking affirm ative
action to encourage and facilitate the participation o f M in o rity
and Women Business Enterprises in C ity purchases and projects.
The C ity also supports the W orkforce Training & H iring Program
and the W orkforce Clearinghouse to increase employment o f
minorities, women, and disadvantaged construction workers on
C ity public w orks projects.
We invite all minority businesses to participate in our competitive bid process for goods and services.
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Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Specializing in Barbeque Ribs & Beef
(ROSA WATSON)
OPEN FROM 6:30-11:30PM,
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120 NE HOLLAND ST.
PORTLAND, OREGON 97211
Office: (503) 249-7090
FAX: (503) 249-7083
City Council Adopts “Prosperous
Portland”, City’s First
Comprehensive Economic
Development Policy
Following more than a year of
intensive work, scores of meetings
with members of the public and pri
vate sector, and input from City bu
reaus, the Portland City Council
unanimously adopted “Prosperous
Portland”, the City’s first compre
hensive econom ic developm ent
policy.
“Prosperous Portland sets forth
a broad new action agenda to guide
the city’s economic development ef
forts," said Mayor Vera Katz. “Now
we have clear guidelines that will
help us take advantage of our chang
ing economy and maximize our op
portunities to attract jobs to the city
and the region. All of Portland's citi
zens will benefit from this economic
development plan."
One of the issues identified by
the Mayor as she was preparing for
her transition into office was the city’s
lack of an updated economic devel
opment policy.
In May 1993, Katz created the
Business roundtable as an advisory
council to the mayor’s office. The
Roundtable, comprised of 25 busi
ness leaders and chaired by John
Russell, president of Rusell Devel
opment Company, was assigned the
task of rethinking the City's role in
economic development and helping
to develop policies and strategies to
ensure the City’s economic health
and vitality.
“This report brings forward a set
of integrated policies which will build
on our city's strengths and bring busi
ness and community leaders to the
Officials Approve
Jobs Plus Start-Up
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ICE COCO BEER
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LUEPARKER
(503) 281-8696
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FAMOUS PAIRS
Joe’s Place
The Friendly Tavern
The Family of Joe's Place
would Like to Thank The
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Community For 21 years
Of Support To Your
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O wner
JOSEPH BENJAMIN
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in "Adam s rtw
1801 NE Alberta
Portland, OR 97211
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