in this issue CRBCC Offers Members Unmatch Group Health & Dental Plans CRBCC Introduces Far Infrared Rays Products to CT. NEON & CRBCC to Present eBiz & Workforce Development August 20, 2002 Highlights From CRBCC July 25th Monthly Meeting Presenters at Chamber Meeting Welcome New Members of the Capitol Region Black Chamber New Member w/CRBCC Funding Program in Bridgeport CT New Member w/CRBCC Funding Program in Hartford CT

Full details and presentations of these programs and services will take place at the chamber's monthly meetings in New Haven County - New Haven, August 20, in Fairfield County - Norwalk, August 21, and in Hartford County - Hartford August 22, 2002.

CRBCC Offers Members Unmatch Group Health & Dental Plans

"The CRBCC is always seeking to expand the benefits available to its members," said Ron Dunson, Chairman of the CRBCC. "Health and dental insurance premiums are a crisis for small employers who run community based businesses. Most small businesses report that paying for health care insurance is their biggest expense after meeting payroll." The chamber's group plans are unmatched by any other high quality plan in Connecticut. 100% hospitalization, use your own doctor, 20% to 30% less than other plans makes this a great benefit to small business owners and their employees. The owner can opt to have the employees pay or the owner can contribute as an incentive or added benefit to employees.

To see a rate comparisons, participating hospitals, providers and more information click here

	CRBCC Introduces Far Infrared Rays Products to CT.
At the July 25, 2002 monthly meeting of the Capitol Region Black Chamber of Commerce, Jim Bell, Exec.VP Operations, CRBCC, provided an overview of the Far Infrared Ray Technology and demonstrated a few of the products. The chamber has exclusive rights of distribution in Connecticut and sees this as a significant entrepreneurial opportunity for Connecticut small businesses. A meeting has already been arranged with a water company in Norwalk Connecticut August 16, 2002. The products provide market entry to consumer and commercial markets in Connecticut for enterprising entrepreneurs. Far Infrared Rays According to Sang Wang, author of Reversing Aging, over 150 patents have been granted to the Japanese for a wide range of far-infrared products, such as sauna, incubators, in addition to wave generating ceramics and fabrics. Far Infrared: What is it? Sunlight consists of different wave lengths of light. When combined they produce the "white light" that we experience every day. Infrared light is in this spectrum's lower range, and although its rays aren't visible to the eye, it generates the warmth we feel on bright sunny days. Infrared rays vary in wavelengths, and are categorized as near infrared, mid infrared and far infrared. While these rays share the attributes listed below, they are most noticeable in far infrared waves. Radiation: Infrared rays radiate or spread from a localized source. Penetration: Unlike visible light, infrared rays can deeply penetrate skin and the underlying tissues. Resonance: Infrared rays naturally generate heat by causing the body's molecules to rapidly vibrate against each other. Far Infra-Red Rays & Health: The Relationship..Click here »

	NEON & CRBCC to Present eBiz & Workforce Development August 20, 2002
NEON & CRBCC will present the integrated "eBiz Commuinity" and Workforce Development Internet Platform at the New England Community Action Program Agencies Workshop Series to be held August 19-21, 2002 at the Moodus Resort in Moodus Connecticut. The presentation workshop will take place August 20, 2002 from 2:30PM to 4:30PM. Robert Burgess, Executive Director, Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, will be the moderator. "Integrated information management, communication and transactions are critical to the success and operational efficiency of any business or organization today", said Robert Burgess, Exec. Director, NEON. The Capitol Region Black Chamber of Commerce, Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now and Commerce Thur Digital Technology have joined to bring a holistic solution to urban economic and workforce development. The eBiz Community and CDT's Netpool Data Systems seamlessly integrate businesses, education institutions, banks, corporate community, workforce development agencies, community & faith based organization in the development process. Combined with CRBCC Free Internet website with email, and Internet to phone unified message technology, businesses and organizations not on-line can participate fully in the urban economic and workforce development process. Click here for NEON & CRBCC 6 City Initiatives... »

	Highlights From CRBCC July 25th Monthly Meeting
PN - Power Networking. At the onset of each meeting, attendees are afforded the opportunity to present themselves and their businesses to the audience. Each business is encouraged to pass out at least 5 business cards and brochures to other businesses for referrals. Each business must pass out the cards prior to the next chamber monthly meeting. Pictured here with the mike is Brenda Oneal, President, Idea Connection - Innovation Diversity Training, Inc., Hamden, CT. (203) 248-8555 http://www.brendaoneal@innovationdiversity.com. Pictured with the mike, Mr. William R. Hales, CEO, Inquirer Newspaper Group, Inc. with distributions in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Springfield, MA. Mr. Hales is a store house of business wisdom, which he has shared with many of Connecticut's most successul businesses. And Mr. Hales continues to make his self available to the serious minded. The Inquirer News Group, Inc. (860) 522-1462 Hartford, CT

	Presenters at Chamber Meeting
George Milward, Chairman, Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Miniority Contractors reported on the NAMC & CRBCC MBE development and capacity building program. As a result of the chamber's new financial services program with WorldNet Enterprises, LLC, many firms will be able to participate on city, state, and private projects. NAMC and the Capitol Region Chamber will provide workshops along with corporate partners to better prepare firms for maximum participation. Jim Bell, Exec VP of Operations constantly monitors new emerging technologies that keep the chamber on the cutting edge. Mr. Bell also manages the chamber's think tank and national resource networks. His approach to sustainable economic community development is technology driven and forms the foundation for the chamber's domestic and international development initiatives.

	Welcome New Members of the Capitol Region Black Chamber
Godson Agbodo, Vice President, Global Market Ventures, Inc. "No one knows the power of the chamber better than Global Market Ventures." About six months ago, we received an email request to join the black chamber. We did not respond. After receiving another email about a week ago, we decided to call being on the verge of losing a sole distributorship for a specific fertilizer ingredient. Once we joined the chamber and through its network, we had three potential buyers within one hour of the request. I think back now about all of the business we could have had if we joined six months ago. Global Market Ventures, Inc specializes in import/export of products and services primarily from and to Ghana, West Africa. The company has many exclusives on a wide range of products for import into the North American market. Core line products include pharmaceuticals, rock phosphate for fertilizers, commercial paper products for printing industry, crude oil and heavy machinery. The company offices are located at 2 Park Place, First Floor, Hartford, CT 06106. (860) 951-3263. Kevin R. Leatherwood, Sr. is President of Key Line Telecom LLC. The company has been in business for seven years. They take pride in providing prompt professional service to their customers at competitive prices. The chamber has called upon this company on many of occasions and can speak highly of the quality of the company's workmanship. The scope of work consists of commercial and residential wiring for telephone, computer, and speakers. The company also trouble shoot and fix telephone problems, add lines, move lines, take out old wiring, and install new multi- line wiring and jacks. If you need equipment, the company also supplies replacement parts, phones, handsets, stations, cards, line cards, etc. For prompt service call, fax or email: (860) 796-6491, Fax: (860) 290-1770, Email: keylinetel@aol.com.

	New Member w/CRBCC Funding Program in Bridgeport CT
Warren Godbolt, CEO, Progressive Trianing Associates.Inc. stands in front of the proposed new headquarters of PTA, Inc. The company has made application for funding through the chamber's financial services support program. PTA, Inc. is presently located at 965 Fairfield Ave in Bridgeport, CT 06605- 1117. For information about any of the their programs call: (203) 366-4085, Email: warrengodbolt@snet.net. Progressive Training Associates, Inc. is proposing to develop a One Stop Vocational Training Center at 1027 Fairfield Avenue, the former Fruitrich Cadillac building. The center will provide vocational training, job placement, job creation, and personal development programming to disenfranchised young and adults. The vision is a One Stop Vocational Training Center that will provide not only vocational training skills and jobs, but also serve as a hub where youth and their families can come for support services including peer support groups, ESL and GED classes. PTA Inc. has a 90% success rate for job development and placement and an 80% retention rate. This one stop vocational training center will serve as a place for training, life enhancement skills, family support, and a safe haven for young adults who may already be in trouble, on probation or parole, just coming out of incarceration or homeless. The ultimate goal is to develop a minimum of 125 jobs per year in the fields of furniture upholstery, carpet installation, light home construction, bookkeeping, certified nurse's aide, dental assistance, and youth practitioner. The outcome is self-sufficient, financially stable residents who no longer rely on public assistance and contribute to the city's tax base. The training center will serve as a thriving Hub for individual empowerment and training leading to knowledge, marketable skills, employment, and self-sufficiency. The Capitol Region Black Chamber and Norwalk Economic Opportunities Now, NEON, have discussed incorporating Progessive Associates Training Inc. programs in the 6 city market initiative to duplicate/franchise these successful programs in other key urban centers in Connecticut. Click here for more information about other components »

	New Member w/CRBCC Funding Program in Hartford CT
Ted's Welding is a good example of a forward looking small business utilizing the resources of the Capitol Region Black Chamber to take his business to the next level. The company with sales just under one million dollars has an ambitious plan to be a $15 million company in the next 5 years. On July 17, 2002, the chamber met with key management personnel to start mapping out a strategy to accomplish the goal. The chamber put together the key team players to develop a comprehensive business plan, marketing plan and technology plan. Other team members include legal, accounting and a specialized business consultant as a strategic partner. Ted's Welding took immediate advantage of the chamber free services to establish an on-line presence for the company while the technology plan takes shape. The company, assisted by a loan from the chamber financial services program, is seeking to move into larger facilities to support its current and expanding future growth requirements. The chamber has located two sites for the company. The company will take & train its new empolyees from the Hartford workforce to meet the expanding needs of the company and the welding industry. The chamber also assisted in key selections of administrative staff. Before joining the chamber, Ted's Welding was not on- line. After joining the chamber and before Ted's Welding could order an upgraded computer system to be effective on-line, the chamber created the company's basic, but effective Free website, registered the company's domain name, registered the company's website on the top 100 search engines on the Internet, prepared a company profile within the "eBiz Community" platform that is accessible to businesses, city, state, federal agencies and corporate entities in the U.S. and around the world. The chamber established an Internet to phone link to the company's office phones and other digital devices- cell phones, fax- so that all Internet and email and other digital traffic are routed to the designated devices. The chamber also established an Information Page on the company's website so that requests for quotes and other information from customers, vendors, suppliers, strategic partners can receive immediate attention regardless if personnel are in or out of the office. Notifications can be sent to whereever they are in the U.S. or around the world. All of this is accomplished through the chamber's "eBiz Community" without Ted's Welding being on-line with a computer. Once on-line, the Capitol Region Black Chamber's Internet to phone technology will provide Ted's Welding with enhanced tools that will increase the operational efficiency of the company even more. Click Here to Visit Teds Welding Website for Company Profile »

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