Lifestyle

Instead of talking about problems plaguing African-American communities, a new Web site is designed to help solve those problems by connecting black businesses with local and national buyers. 

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On July 18, Where2Go411.com and the Where2Go411 Mobile App will be unveiled in Jackson during a Business Roundtable featuring some of Mississippi’s top stakeholders and power brokers.

“Too often, corporations and government entities say they don’t know where to go to find black enterprises. Well, we say Where2Go411.com is the place to go,” said Kathy Y. Times, co-creator of Where2Go411.com. “This e-Destination serves as a force for growing black enterprises and increasing job opportunities for those in our urban areas.”

Times is a former Jackson television news anchor and the immediate past president of the National Association of Black Journalists. In May, Times and her business partner, James Covington, launched the Web site that is loaded with more than 100,000 listings including restaurants, churches, cultural places of interest, professionals, and much more in 20 cities around the country.

For the first time, the public will see Where2Go411’s QRSO (Quotes, RFP and Subcontracting Opportunities)– a feature of the website that allows companies and public entities to solicit quotes, bids, and subcontracting opportunities for products and services. Small companies can form joint ventures on the site to seek large contracting opportunities.

“All across America, African-American communities are on the verge of collapsing under the awesome weight of crime, high unemployment, and lost opportunities resulting from economic neglect,” said Covington.  “Grow the black business class, and you will transform the economic reality of African-American communities.”

Covington gives provocative insight to the economic plight of African-Americans and pronounces the growth of black businesses as the key to solving these problems in his book, “From Civil Rights to Silver Rights: We Need An Economic Movement” and has owned an IT consulting firm for nearly 20 years.

On July 18, this economic movement will be at the center of a roundtable to discuss a local and national strategy to grow black enterprises. It will take place at 4 p.m. at the Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University, 1230 Raymond Road. A reception will follow the roundtable at 6 p.m. The event is co-hosted by the Jackson Business Accelerator Collaboration.

Invited panelists include procurement officers, elected officials, and business owners.  This event is open to the public, but seating is limited. To reserve a seat, go to Where2Go411.com to sign up to be a part of this historical event.

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