BALTIMORE, MD (October 30, 2015) -- The National Urban League, already set to attract $4.2 million in economic impact to the city of Baltimore with the National Urban League 2016 Conference, today announced the creation of a Greater Baltimore Urban League Entrepreneurship Center that will generate at dozens of jobs and generate millions of dollars in contracting and bonding opportunities.
“Entrepreneurship is one of the most fundamental elements of economic self-sufficiency,” Morial said. “Particularly in communities of color, small businesses have always played a critical role as job creators and wealth generators.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $300,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant for the development of a new Entrepreneurship Center. The program will train and advise small-business owners and entrepreneurs who were affected financially by the recent unrest.
“The enthusiasm, initiative and drive that motivates entrepreneurs are the fuel for driving Baltimore’s economic growth,” Greater Baltimore Urban League President and CEO J. Howard Henderson. “We need to do everything we can to support their innovation and ambition, as the jobs they create and economic activity they generate leads to more stable and resilient communities,”.
Rebuilding and strengthening Baltimore’s economy not only will help create family-sustaining jobs, but rebound, but it will provide new opportunities that will ultimately make it stronger and more resilient in the future. I applaud the Urban League for its efforts to support local businesses and build a brighter future for the people of Baltimore.”
The grant is the second major economic development boon to be announced since Baltimore was selected August for the 2016 Conference, expected to attract 13,000 attendees and fill 6,000 hotel rooms.
Baltimore is the 13th Urban League affiliate to launch the Entrepreneurship Center Program, Morial said. The others are in Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Jacksonville, FL, Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA, New Orleans, LA, Philadelphia, PA, Houston, TX, Washington DC and Las Vegas, NV.
“Last year, our Entrepreneurship Centers served nearly 11,000 business owners, helping to create or save more than 1,170 jobs and procure $73,765,728 in new contracts and financing,” Morial said. “We look forward to a similar success here in Baltimore.”
National Urban League
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 95 affiliates serving 300 communities, in 35 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide. To learn more about the National Urban League, visit www.nul.org and follow us on Twitter @NatUrbanLeague.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Teresa Candori (National Urban League)
212-558-5433/tcandori@nul.org
Adrian Harpool (Greater Baltimore Urban League)
443-226-4427/adrian@adrianharpool.com
