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-
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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
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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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OPEN FROM 6:30-11:30PM,
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120 NE HOLLAND ST.
PORTLAND, OREGON 97211
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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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FAMOUS PAIRS
Joe’s Place
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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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