TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA – In a resounding success story for the National Business League ® (NBL), the National Black Supplier Development Program ® (NBSDP) proudly announces that over the past two years, its alumni have secured over one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000.00) in purchasing contracts, solidifying its position as one of the most impactful initiatives in the nation for Black-owned businesses.
“We have progressed far beyond the days of business card exchanges, chicken dinners, empty press conference and announcements, and we are now steadfastly dedicated to fostering commerce-driven initiatives and purposeful opportunities, going beyond mere words and charismatic speeches,” declared Dr. Ken L. Harris, Ph.D., the 16th President/CEO of the National Business League. He underscored, “There exists no other program in the nation that produces such tangible and game-changing results for Black-owned businesses.”
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the NBL welcomed the latest cohort of exceptional Black-owned businesses into the NBSDP. This incoming group, referred to as the Collective, comprises a diverse range of businesses hailing from various regions across the country. These outstanding entrepreneurs are poised to make their mark on the business landscape:
– The Advantage Group, Louisville, KY
– Mutombo Coffee, New Orleans, LA
– Chatdesk Inc., New York, NY
– Heritage Vision Plans, Detroit, MI
– HESS Advanced Solutions, Dayton, OH
– James Group International, Detroit, MI
– LED Trail, Portland, OR
– Pacific Medical Specialties, LLC, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
– Polar Group, LLC, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
– Production Spring, LLC, Troy, MI
– Tucker Technology, Inc., Oakland, CA
– VMX International, LLC, Detroit, MI
These exceptional businesses were selected from a competitive national pool of over four hundred plus applicants. Thirty semi-finalists were chosen, and after rigorous personal interviews, twelve outstanding companies were handpicked by a committee of the program’s esteemed corporate partners and Black Business Enterprises ® (BBEs).
Dr. Forrest Carter, Ph.D., NBSDP National Director, outlined his vision for the program’s impact on Black businesses, stating, “Our goal is to support the development of more than 3.2 million Black businesses nationwide, providing them with opportunities within the federal government, as well as the public and private sectors.”
The NBSDP, launched in 2021 with initial capital support from MPS Group and a significant three-year funding commitment from presenting partner Stellantis, was conceived to address the economic challenges faced by Black-owned businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also emerged as a response to the urgent call for racial equity and inclusion following the tragic murder of George Floyd, igniting the global Black Lives Matter movement.
In its second year, the program gained further momentum with the support of partners like Comerica Bank, Cummins, DTE Energy, Ford, GM, Lear, Magna, and Toyota. Remarkably, a waiting list of Fortune 500 companies is eager to join this successful and impactful program in 2024.
