Business
Andrea L. Brookins Receives Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up
Andrea L. Brookins, chief executive officer and owner of Brookins Funeral Home, was a runner-up for Funeral Director of the Year 2018. Brookins Funeral Home has been part of Chicago’s 21st Ward community for over 40 years. The honor recognizes the valuable work she is doing as one of the few African-American women in the funeral service industry today.
Kinzie/King Breakfast to Feature Chair of Black Chamber of Commerce
Frank Bass, the Chair of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois will be the featured speaker for the 11th annual Joyce Kinzie/ Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast at Lincoln College, set for Monday, Jan. 21. Tickets are now available for the event, which will be held in the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium on the Lincoln College campus. The doors will open at 7 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.
BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces The 50 Best Companies For Diversity
BLACK ENTERPRISE, in partnership with The Executive Leadership Council, has released its listing of the "50 Best Companies for Diversity" as featured in the publication's November/December 2018 issue, which focuses on Diversity and Inclusion in corporate America.
Report: Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Face More Financing Challenges than Non-Veteran Small Businesses
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Small Business Administration recently issued the report Financing their Future: Veteran Entrepreneurs and Capital Access. The report provides a comprehensive look at the state of entrepreneurship for military veterans, while presenting new small business credit data from the Federal Reserve Banks’ 2017 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS).
Don’t Let Small Dollar Loans Ruin Your Holidays
In this wonderful time of the year when family and friends gather in good cheer to celebrate the holidays, nearly everyone has a number of lists. From greeting cards to shopping for gifts, decorations and more, lists are made and reviewed to keep pace with the barrage of seasonal activities.
Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?
While there’s no doubt that putting money aside with each paycheck is an essential component to a healthy financial future, it’s important to keep in mind that not all savings accounts are going to give you the same pay back or benefits.
New Research Shows Consumers Increasingly Adopting Tech-Driven Purchasing Habits
Citi Retail Services (CRS) recently announced the results of its third-annual nationwide study on evolving consumer shopping trends during the holiday season. The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that this holiday season, in addition to rushing to the mall, consumers are increasingly powering up their computers and mobile devices or simply interacting with their virtual assistant. While nearly three-fourths (73%) still plan on visiting a brick and- mortar store to purchase holiday gifts, a sizable 57% additionally plan on turning to their computer to shop, 42% to their mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, and 13% to their virtual assistant, such as Alexa or Siri, to facilitate their holiday shopping needs.
Employees of African-American business owners are more likely to receive robust benefits packages
As unemployment rates remain low across the country, strong employee benefits packages are a key driver of both recruitment and retention. According to Nationwide’s fourth annual survey of U.S. business owners with 1-499 employees, 85 percent of African-American business owners say they offer some form of an employee benefits package — well exceeding the broader business owner market (64 percent). Across every benefit category included in Nationwide’s survey, more African-American business owners indicate they provide more benefits to their employees than the general population of business owners.
Money expert Clark Howard releases annual rating of 529 plans by state
According to money expert Clark Howard, a 529 plan is the best way to save for college. However, plans vary so wildly by state that it is crucial to carefully select the right plan for you and your family. For this reason, Clark reviewed every commission-free plan in each state and selected the top options for consumers.
Small And Mid-Size Business Owners Feel A Slight Chill In The Air
Historic optimism about the national economy from the spring (50 percent) chilled slightly this fall (40 percent), but remains well above fall 2017 (29 percent), according to the PNC Economic Outlook, a semiannual telephone survey of small and middle-market business owners and executives. Four out of 10 business leaders described their outlook for the national economy as optimistic, the second-highest rating in the 15-year survey.
Ford Motor Company is Seeking Unsung Heroes in the Chicago Area
• Ford Freedom Unsung program kicks off to celebrate individuals who went above and beyond in the Chicago area • Call for nominations due Oct. 24; special awards ceremony to be held on Nov. 15 • Ford and its dealers have committed more than $3.5 million dollars in program support in Chicago since 2008
Key women leaders urge an override of Governor's veto
Key women leaders from around Illinois united recently to urge an override of the Governor's veto of new protections for fair treatment for women in the workplace, after he vetoed a similar proposal last year.
Report Lists 308 Black Corporate Directors of America's 500 Largest Public Companies, Identifies 187 Corporations with No Black Directors
Black Enterprise (BE) has released its latest exclusive report on African American representation on the corporate boards of 500 of America's largest publicly traded companies today at BlackEnterprise.com. The media company identifies 308 African American directors at S&P 500 companies, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Prudential Financial Inc., ExxonMobil, and FedEx Corp., on the BLACK ENTERPRISE Registry of Corporate Directors. In addition, the report reveals 184 companies with no African American representation among their boards of directors.
Up to One Million Dollars in Financing to Be Awarded to Ethnic Minority Companies in ‘Shark Tank’-like Business Competition
Minority business owners have historically found it difficult to gain access to capital. This funding often plays a big part in determining between the success and failure of the business. Studies have shown that financial, human, and social capital, as well as racial discrimination, are primarily responsible for disparities between non-minority and minority businesses. Achieving parity is key to significant U.S. economic growth, creating new jobs and raising wages in economically disadvantaged communities.
