Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Joins Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce Network

Oct. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), the governing body for all black chamber of commerce organizations within the state of Michigan, announces the launch of the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce (LBCC).

The launch of the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce continues the expansion by the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce to establish black chamber organizations in each urban area within the state of Michigan.

“African American business owners in Lansing are excited about the formation of the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce,” said Angela Pruitt, new President and CEO of the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce. “Having an organization that will provide resources and advance the issues of the Lansing black business community is important in fostering growth for African American-owned businesses in the Lansing area, and making this central Michigan region economically stronger.”

The Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce is the newest of several black business chamber organizations to be chartered and launched within Michigan, and represents the first black business advocacy organization in Lansing, Michigan’s capitol city. The African American population comprises nearly 22 percent of the total Lansing population.

According to 2007 U.S. Census figures, there are over 72,000 African American-owned businesses in the state of Michigan. African American consumers in Michigan possess $8.3 billion in collective buying power.

“The chartering of the Lansing Black Chamber as Michigan’s newest black chamber, validates the need for black-owned businesses to have a voice in their local communities,” said Ken Harris, President and CEO of The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce. “The Lansing Black Chamber will play a key role in the implementation of a state-wide economic agenda for more than 72,000 African American businesses currently operating in the State of Michigan.”

Nationally, there are nearly 2 million African American-owned businesses employing nearly 1 million people. The 2007 Census figures show that black-owned firms are growing at three times the national rate, and black-owned companies that generate more than $1 million in annual revenue grew by an average of 19 percent to $5.4 million in 2007.

The Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce will become a part of a statewide organization, The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, and a national network of African American businesses and black chambers through the U. S. Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

“The Lansing Black Chamber is the next step towards the Michigan Black Chamber’s efforts to help revitalize the great State of Michigan,” said Ron Busby, President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce. “The Lansing Black Chamber will now have access to a state-wide and a national network of nearly 2 million African American businesses associated with the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce.”

The MBCC plans to charter and launch additional chapters in other Michigan cities in 2011 and 2012.

For more information about the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce visit http://www.lansingblackchamber.com. For information on the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, visit http://www.michiganblackchamber.com.