January 2016
Washington D.C. – The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will announce the schedule for the 2016 LGBT Business Builder program at a Press Conference on January 12th at 1:00 p.m. EST at SBA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The kickoff LGBT Business Builder event of 2016 will be held in Boston, Massachusetts on February 17th; registration is currently open at www.nglcc.org.
The LGBT Business Builder is a hyper-local business education and resource-sharing program first launched in February 2015 as a result of a Strategic Alliance Memorandum between NGLCC and the SBA. In keeping with NGLCC’s mission, the LGBT Business Builder is intended to further the LGBT movement through the economic advancement of LGBT entrepreneurs. The strategic locations of these events reflect surging momentum toward LGBT business inclusion in some of the top entrepreneurial centers in America and will bring the combined resources of NGLCC and SBA to America’s 1.4 million LGBT business owners. Nine cities across the nation will host events this year, almost doubling the number from 2015.
“The information and resources from SBA District Offices are a wonderful complement to the Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) status and membership in our local affiliate chambers,” said Sam McClure, NGLCC Senior Vice President. “This triad of resources will support the growth of every Certified LGBTBE® and reinforce the strong connectivity of the LGBT business community.”
WHAT: Press Conference to announce 2016 LGBT Business Builder Dates & Locations
WHEN: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. (Confirmed media should plan to arrive the entry control point by 12:30 p.m.)
WHERE: The U.S. Small Business Administration (409 3rd St SW Washington, DC 20416)
HOW: To attend in person RSVP by 5 p.m. Monday, January 11, 2016 to Mark.gibson@sba.gov. Government issued photo ID is required for entry. For those interested in attending over the phone; teleconference connect information will be sent upon request.
“[The LGBT Business Builder] is about ensuring that entrepreneurs who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender have the support they need to excel. I’m here because we cannot separate the fight for civil rights from the fight for market rights and economic empowerment,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet at the 2015 launch of the program. “This agreement is not about what we will do here in D.C., but what we will do together in all 50 states to help LGBT entrepreneurs grow their revenues and their payroll.”
This focus on local economic development is reflected in the cities selected to host LGBT Business Builder events. In its first year, events were held in four California cities, following the 2015 implementation of California Assembly Bill 1678, which opened up procurement opportunities for LGBT businesses with California public utility companies. Likewise, the inaugural LGBT Business Builder was held in San Francisco to capitalize on the decision by Super Bowl 50 Host Committee to include LGBTBEs in its supplier diversity program.
2016’s first Business Builder will be held in Boston, where Governor Charlie Baker issued an executive order including LGBTBEs in contracting and procurement opportunities alongside women and minority owned businesses. Similarly, the LGBT Business Builder will then move on to Houston, TX were LGBT businesses will be included in procurement opportunities for Super Bowl 51.
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The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses. www.nglcc.org
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Shapiro
202-427-3603
