Development Foundation

Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce

 

  

Existing and Upcoming Programs

Nxlevel Business Training

This training will feature the Nxlevel curriculum for small business start up and operation. The course will include guest presenters, special interest videos and other special features to enhance the learning experience. The course is also designed to provide an indept education in developing a Business Plan. The course will be presented by certified instructors and supplemented by industry professionals

 

Credit Education

This series of workshops is design to educate the participants on the credit system. It explains the FICO score and all the aspect the are used to establish the numbers. Participants are given tips on how to raise their scores and some sound advise on how to maintain good credit. This project will also be present several time a year.

 

Internet Education

This is a series of workshops designed to educate business owner as well as other individuals on the use of the internet as a resources for information and other activities to enhance business operations. These workshops will address other emerging technologies as they become available and viable for today’s businesses. These workshops will also address the use of “Social Networking” as a marketing and business enhancement tool.

 

“Welcome Home”

This is a total home ownership preparedness program design to properly prepare potential home buyers for purchasing a home and carry through to the correct things to do or not do after buying a home. This is a multi-secession program which will extend 4 to 5 weeks or more. We are also in the process of acquiring a syndicated television show with the same name to be aired on local brighthouse stations in concurrence with the program. This project will offer additional help to offset the on slot of foreclosures that has been the headlines of many recent news shows.

 

Small Business Loan Program

We are currently working to establish a loan fund for local small business; targeted toward low income, economically disadvantaged  businesses. The loans will be from $5,000 to $25,000 and will be initiated out of the Kern County Black Chamber Office. There will be a local Loan Committee which will over see the administration of the loans. This program should be a tremendous boast to the Kern County business community.

 

United Way – Financial Stability

KCBCC is one of the eight community partners working with United Way to implement the Financial Stability Program. In addition to offering Financial Literacy, Home Ownership Workshops and other Life Educational programs the main feature of the project is the IDA (Individual Development Account) being offered through participation in the program. The IDA is a major savings stimulator which can help individuals begin to prepare for whatever future they desire.

 

Youth Leadership and Development

 

Junior Black Chamber of  Commerce

The California State Black Chamber has initiated a program for all of its local member Chamber to operate  Junior Chambers around the state. KCBCC has launched a Junior Chamber in 2008. The chapter is made up of young adults from 16 yrs. (Juniors in High School) to 25 yrs. old. The program objective is to  present opportunities for student members to learn about financial literacy, the stock market, business start-up and operations, workforce preparedness and general social and business etiquette.  

 

Real Talk: The Urban Life

This is a quarterly forum designed to provide an opportunity to youth, between the ages of 16 and 25, for an open discussion on current events and/or local community issues.

 

Black History Bee

This is an annual scholastic event targeting junior high school students ages 9 to 13. The event is designed to test their knowledge of black history and black historical personalities.

 

Jr. Black Apprentice

This program gives African American youth the opportunity to test their business skills in an intensive competition of wits, common sense and strategic thinking.

 

Computers 4 Knowledge (C4K)

C4K is a program targeting middle school and elementary school students with programs to help close the digital divide. These students come from the low and middle income communities. Students spend six consecutive Saturdays at computer labs in the local university to develop computer and related skills.

 

Job Shadowing

This program is for young adults from 16 to 25 years of age. The program provides opportunities for job shadowing in career areas of interest.

 

Pizza and Politics

This program is designed to present learning opportunities to young adults in the areas of civic duties, political and business regulations as well as personal rights and responsibilities. There will be opportunities for debates on current issues.

 

Young Entrepreneur

This is a extended course teaching entrepreneurial concepts, business start up and operations to young adults ages 16 to 25. The program uses curriculum from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to instruct participants in detailed procedures for developing a business plan.

 

Other Activity

 

The KCBCC Connection

 

This is a monthly online publication that will keep our members as well as the general public abreast of the programs and activities that are taking place at the Chamber. We will invite other non-profit to submit articles and information and attempt to make this a primary source for vital and useful information to the African American community.

 

 

KCBCC Development Foundation

This Foundation is a partner to the Chamber and is in place to help the Chamber as well as other local non-profits access funds that are available for community and economic development programs. Many of the target organizations are already engaged in programs and activities which qualify for funding but do not have the infrastructure to access the funding sources. One of the goals of this Foundation is to bring these organization together to work as a collaboration to obtain the funds which would support theses programs.

The Foundation is developing partnerships with several local non-profits such as the organization which presents the Bill Pickett Rodeo, the organization presenting the Annual Black History Parade and Heritage Festival, the Kern County African American Museum,  the Kern County African American Hall of Fame,  and others to establish a collaborative effort in seeking major funding which could support all of these programs and more.

While the KCBCC Development Foundation is not exclusively for African American programs; it is the first foundation in the region that has as its primary target programs which serve the African American community as well as lower income and socially and economically disadvantaged residences.  

 

 

Healthy Families

KCBCC Development Foundation is a Certified Enrollment Entity for the “Healthy Families” Insurance Program. This is a program that provides affordable insurance to youth from ages 0 to 18 years. This program allows our organization to complement the youth oriented programs and activities with a value added service that can offer tremendous assistance to a low income family households.

 

Angle Food Ministries

KCBCC Development Foundation is partnering with local churches to bring the “Angle Food Ministries” program to the San Joaquin Valley. This is a program that provides affordable groceries to families in need. There is no pre-qualifications to participate in the program. The food is from quality sources and is provide in what ever quantity you desire.

 

 

Coming together is a Start,  staying together is Progress,  and working together is Success!