1. THE JOURNAL
JULY ‘08 ISSUE 4
Lights, Camera, Four local business
Action owners receive CRP Grant
By Cynthia Perry
Commissioner Moss gets businesses noticed Tool For Change
Four local business owners received a grant to
By Nakia Bowling
rehabilitate their buildings through Miami-Dade
Editor
County, Office of Community and Economic De-
If you are a small business in Miami-
velopment, Commercial Revitalization Program
Dade County, chances are, you’ve heard (CRP).
about the Mom and Pop Small Business
NANA/ Tools For Change provides technical
Grant Program.
assistance and manages these projects. The busi-
Since 1999 the Small Business Program nesses include Hall, Ferguson and Hewitt Mortu-
has been giving small businesses a real op- ary, P.A.; Prince Lawnmower Sales and Service;
portunity to succeed. District 9 Miami- Public Allie and Rudy’s Stereo Tape Service.
Dade County Commissioner Dennis C.
CRP is designed to improve the physical and
Moss wanted to expand that opportunity. economic condition of commercial areas in low and
Moss initiated a resolution to the Board of County Commis- moderate income neighborhoods. The program
sioners to have businesses in each district who received the grant makes available grants up to a maximum of $
to be highlighted on the County’s TV on Demand. The resolu- 100,000 to qualified business owners and mer-
tion passed. chants to rehabilitate the exterior of their commer-
People who visit the Miami-Dade County cial buildings.
Cont. Pg. 2
Inside this issue:
Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson
hosts affordable housing press conference Eco Finances 2
Special to the Journal Mayor’s Visit 3
Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson joined Mayor
Carlos Alvarez at a press conference on Thursday,
June 12 at Lafayette Plaza Apartments, an afford- ECP Business 3
able housing project completed in Little Haiti. The Seminar
press conference confirmed Commissioner Edmon-
son's commitment to supporting affordable housing Business Spotlight 4
in Miami-Dade County and her own district.
"Homeownership is a goal many residents are un- Monthly Calendar 4
able to achieve because present home prices are beyond their budgetary means," said
Commissioner Edmonson. "Affordable housing projects like Lafayatte Plaza make it
possible to purchase a home that fits their budget."
Capitol Crunch on 5
Black Businesses
According to Mayor Alvarez, Miami-Dade County has dedicated more than $150 mil-
lion of surtax monies for developments over the past ten years, totaling more than
11,000 apartments and homes for low and moderate income families. An additional The Journal

2. Five ways to green your finances
By Nakia Bowling
Editor
Pay Your Bills Online
Paying your bills on the Web will help cut down on paper and is quick and easy. Also, request that your bank and other
businesses send you online statements. According to the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), by
switching to electronic bills and statements and making online payments, the average
American household can conserve 6.6 pounds of paper annually. If you’d rather use
checks, you can purchase those made from recycled paper. Bank of America, Wells
Fargo, and other financial institutions offer the option to purchase eco-friendly
checks.
Buy a Scanner
Scanning important documents onto your computer will cut down on paper and clut-
ter, as well as help to keep you organized. Special scanners, such as the Neat Receipts
model, www.neatreceipts.com, will allow you to scan and organize important receipts
and bills that you may need to retain.
Use Banks that Follow the Equator Principles
Inquire whether or not your bank adheres to the Equator Principles, a set of environmental and social standards devel-
oped by the World Bank Group. Followed by banks and financial institutions, these principles encourage the financing of
development projects that are socially and environmentally responsible.
Patronize a Green Bank
Green banking" describes any financial institution that has incorporated an eco-friendly outlook into its business model.
Chase opened a green bank branch in Denver, and Wachovia has plans to open 300 green banking institutions by 2010
Invest in Green Companies
Invest in your community and companies whose products and services are not detrimental to the environment or society.
According to the Social Investment Forum (www.socialinvest.org), an association dedicated to advancing the practice
and growth of socially and environmentally responsible investing, this form of investment comprises $2.3 trillion dollars
in the U.S. alone.
Small businesses get a chance to shine on County’s On Demand
Cont. from Pg. 1 Lights, Camera, Action
programming on the latest Board of County Commissioner Meeting, committee meeting, county TV shoes
and now features on small businesses that have received funding from the Mom and Pop Small Business
grant program.
It is estimated that the county receives over 20,000 web visitors per day. The exposure that these small
businesses can receive from web visitors are endless, according to Leroy Jones, Executive Director of
Neighbors And Neighbors Association and the man responsible for the creation of the program.
“This is a great opportunity for Mom and Pop businesses. People from all over the world who may be
visiting the county’s website can learn about these businesses,” said Jones. “ This is a sure way to level the
playing field. The business owners get free advertising and exposure. It’s a great thing.”
The features are pretty in-depth. A county reporter goes out to the businesses and interviews them, cap-
tures them at work and gives a detailed explanation of what the business does. The entire segment is about 5
to 10 minutes long.
If you would like to see one of the many businesses that have received a Mom and
Pop grant, log on to www.miamidade.gov and click on the Watch It! On Demand link.
Page 2 THE JOURNAL
The Journal

3. County Mayor visits Mom and Pop businesses
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez took time out of his busy schedule to visit with recipient busi-
nesses of the Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program. Mayor Alvarez saw first hand how the grant
money helped businesses in the county. The Mayor visited 18 businesses
Mayor Alvarez and Bernice Morris Mayor Alvarez takes a moment with
Mayor Alvarez and Commissioner Audrey of Commissioner Dorrin Rolle at
Edmonson visits Kwon Jae HWA Taekwon-do Hudson Protection Service, Inc. Prince Lawn Mower Service & Sales
It’s all smiles when Mayor Alvarez Kids and owners of Watch Me Grow
visits Accurate Battery Corp. Commission Edmonson along with Mayor Learning Center meet Mayor Alvarez
Alvarez visits Royalty Insurance Services and Commissioner Bruno Barreiro
By Arthur “Doc” Blair
NANA Special Projects Coordinator
There were no free cash give-aways or
gold bars handed out, but the advice, 1-on-
1 counseling and information that was
freely given was worth..”millions.”
Jungle Island was the place and May 5th,
2008 was the date for start-up business
entrepreneurs and veteran business owners
to assemble and literally take “note”.
NANA business Coordinator Elia Perez-
Whether by pen, pencil or laptop; this was
Aryan gets down to business with a business the time and the place to garner and gather
owner. the tools, skills and techniques to either
create or expand your business enterprise.
The event, the 2nd of its kind, was organized and produced by the newly formed,
Economic Community Partnership; a locally formed group of Business, Govern-
ment and Community based organizations that are dedicated to improving and en-
hancing the profitability opportunities for start-up and existing businesses in the
Miami-Dade county area.
Volume, 1 Issue 2 Page 3
The Journal

4. USINESS
SPOTLIGHT Capital Crunch for Black Businesses
By Nakia Bowling
Editor
Prince Lawn Mower Service & Sales A Federal Reserve report released this month under-
8195 NW 17th Avenue, Miami, FL scores the increasing difficulty that small business owners are
Tel: 305-693-0221 facing in securing loans during the current economic climate. It
is a reality that has both African American entrepreneurs and
legislators looking for solutions.
What started out as a one person business
“On average, it’s difficult for black business owners to
over 20 years ago has grown into a booming
get access to capital but when we have downturns in the econ-
company boasting five employees and a client
omy it becomes especially hard,” says Reginald Gates, president
list to be reckoned with.
of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce. Without access to
Prince Lawn Mower Services and Sales
capital, entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to expand and even
is a cut above the rest. The family business is
compete for some contracts that require business owners to have
run by Velius Prince and his two sons Jody and
a designated amount of funds ready and available to perform the
J. Prince The business started out as a small
work, Gates says.
lawn service, making small repairs and selling
The Fed’s April 2008 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Sur-
minor equipment. The company now holds ma-
vey on Bank Lending Practices, based on responses from 56
jor contracts with Miami-Dade County and are
banks in the United States and 21 U.S. branches of foreign
looking to secure additional contracts with the
banks, found that about 55% of domestic banks had tightened
State of Florida and the City of Miami.
lending standards for commercial and industrial loans in the last
“We want to be bigger than our competi-
quarter. Likewise, 50% of survey respondents acknowledged
tion. We want to sell more and secure more ma-
tightening lending standards on loans made to small firms—
jor contracts,” said Jody. “We are doing big
companies with sales of less than $50 million.
things.”
The economic uncertainties being faced by small busi-
Bigger and better is definitely the theme
nesses has members of Congress taking notice. Even before the
of the business, especially with their newly ac-
Fed report, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Com-
quired building of over 1300 sq. ft. where they
mittee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced the
sell everything from commercial tractors to lawn
Small Business Lending Stimulus Act in February. The bill
chemical treatment. So the next time you are in
would reduce fees for borrowers and lenders and is designed to
need of lawn service or equipment stop by the
entice banks to offer Small Business Administration-backed
local business that’s a cut above the rest—Prince
loans. The bill also would increase funding for microloans—
Lawn Mower Service & Sales.
loans up to a maximum of $35,000—which proportionately
benefit underserved communities, including women and minori-
MARK YOUR CALENDARS ties, more than traditional loan programs, Kerry says.
“Our economy works best when our small businesses
6/1: Miami-Dade County is streamlining the are diverse and creating jobs. Up to 60% of our banks have
process for accepting bids and proposals by made it harder and more expensive to get loans and even the
requiring vendor affidavits only once - at the SBA’s lenders are pulling back, which compounds the problem
time of vendor registration. because SBA loans are an important source of capital for under-
served communities,” Kerry adds.
6/4: The Mayor’s Workshop for Community
Based Organizations—8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
West dade Regional Library—9445 Coral Way. Neighbors And Neighbors Association
6/11: The Mayor’s Career & Opportunity 180 NW 62nd Street
Expo—10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Signature Miami, FL 33150
Grands—12725 SW 122nd Ave.
Tel: 305-756-0605
Calling All Small Business Owners
If would like information about contracting op- Fax: 305-756-6008
portunities with Miami-Dade County call 305-
375-3111 and someone from The Department
of Small Business Development’s Business As- The Journal
sistance Division will contact you.