BALTIMORE, MD (August 2, 2016) – The National Urban League, whose Conference this week is expected to attract $4.2 million in economic impact to the city of Baltimore, today dedicated the Raymond V. Haysbert Sr. Entrepreneurship Center.
“At a time when Baltimore is focused on expanding economic opportunity, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, this center will help create dozens of jobs and generate millions of dollars in contracting and bonding opportunities,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said as he cut the ribbon to open the center. “Small businesses play a vital role in generating wealth and creating opportunity, and last year Urban League Entrepreneurship Centers served 11,000 business owners, helping to create or save more than 1,170 jobs and procure $73,765,728 in new contracts and financing.”
The center, created with the help of a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, is named for the late CEO of Parks Sausage Company and the former Chairman of the Greater Baltimore Urban League Board of Trustees.
“Mr. Haysbert’s impact went way beyond Baltimore,” Greater Washington Urban League President and CEO J. Howard Henderson said. “He was a mentor and an inspiration. The important work we will do at this entrepreneurship center is a fitting testament to his legacy.”
The dedication of the Haysbert Center coincided with the opening of the National Urban League 2012 Conference, which continues through Saturday at the Baltimore Convention Center.
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
National Urban League: Teresa Candori
212-558-5362 | tcandori@nul.org
Greater Baltimore Urban League: Adrian Harpool
443-226-4427 | Adrian@AdrianHarpool.com
