Roadmap To Raising Capital/Small Business Lending Seminar November 13

Small, minority, and women-owned businesses will learn about great sources for small business loans, organizations that can assist them in preparing loan applications, and financing contract opportunities. Anthony Ruiz, U.S. Small Business Administration San Antonio District Director, will provide an overview of the support services provided to small businesses by the SBA. There will be a panel discussion featuring community development financial institutions that specialize in lending to small, minority, and women-owned businesses including BCL of Texas, BiGAustin, LiftFund, and PeopleFund. RSVP at The Roadmap To Raising Capital for Small, Minority, Women-Owned Businesses.

PODCAST: Robert C. McMillan Discusses His New Book Next Gen Leader

Leadership transformationalist and award-winning author Robert C.  McMillan discussed his leadership strategies from his book The Next Gen Leader on the April 28 edition of Economic Perspectives.  To listen to the interview click here: Robert McMillan Economic Perspectives Interview.

Podcast: Learn About Healthcare.gov at Austin Event

The SBA Women’s Business Center at BiGAustin is sponsoring a Forum on Healthcare.gov for small business owners and consumers on Thursday, March 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at its office at 5407 North I-H 35, 2nd floor of Chase Bank Bldg in the Capital Plaza in Austin, TX.  Claudia Connor, Director of  the center, came on Economic Perspectives today to discuss the forum along with Marian Williams, a Navigator for Healthcare.gov, and Genice Brown-Harris, an Austin area entrepreneur who has enrolled in Healthcare.gov.  To listen to the interview click here: .

Regional Conference Helps African American Students Develop Careers in Accounting

Raphael Irving

Since its founding in 1969, the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) has played a major role in helping African Americans in the accounting industry, both students, and professionals, build successful careers.  On Economic Perspectives this past Monday, the Western Region President , Raphael Irving, talked about how college students will benefit from participating in the NABA Southwest-Western Region Student Conference which will be held in Houston October 3 – 5.  To listen to the interview click here: 

This year’s conference, as in past years, will offer seminars and workshops designed to enhance your communicative and interpersonal skills and provide tools that will allow for a smoother transition into the professional environment. The conference will also offer the optimum forum to interact with students from other colleges and universities.

PODCAST: How to Build a Successful Small Business

Brian Walters

Management consultant Brian Walters recently discussed what is takes to be successful in business on Economic Perspectives. Walters, who teaches business courses at Austin Community College, has an MBA and over two decades of corporate and consulting experience.  To listen to the interview click here:

Interview with Founders of Capital City Black Film Festival

Winston Williams

Winston G. and Harrell D. Williams, brothers and co-founders of the Capital City Black Film Festival talked about their passion for filmmaking and their path to creating the festival on the

Harrell Williams

August 12 edition of Economic Perspectives.  The film festival, which debuts in Austin September 26 – 28, exists to provide burgeoning Black filmmakers from across the nation an opportunity to showcase their works in one of the top cities in the United States for independent filmmakers.

To listen to the interview click here:

PODCAST: BiG Austin Energy and Transportation Economic Development Summitt October 10

Stacy Dukes-Rhone

On the July 29 edition of Economic Perspectives, BigAustin executive director Stacy Dukes-Rhone discussed the upcoming Energy and Transportation Economic Development Summitt BigAustin is hosting October 10.  To listen to the interview click here: .

PODCAST: Interview with Austin Free-Net About Digital Inclusion

Juanita Budd

Juanita Budd, executive director of Austin Free-Net, was interviewed on Economic Perspectives about digital inclusion in April.    To listen to the interview click here: .

Podcast: City of Austin Economic Development Initiatives

Margaret Shaw

Margaret Shaw recently discussed some of the initiatives of the City of Austin to foster job growth and redevelopment on Economic Perspectives.  To listen to the podcast of this interview click here: Margaret Shaw Interview.

As an Economic Redevelopment Program Manager for the City of Austin, Margaret Shaw helps attract businesses that enhance Austin’s livability and economic viability in a manner that preserves the community’s character and its environment.  She promotes commercial investment by industrial, manufacturing and export/import firms, primarily at/near the Austin airport.  Expanding these industries in Austin helps to meet the demands of an ever increasing population and provide job opportunities for residents without a four-year college degree.  She also helps to coordinate mixed-use redevelopment efforts in the central business district.

Preserving Social Security and It’s Importance to African Americans

One of the most important aspects of economics in the African American community is Social Security.  According to the  research of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), about 75 percent of the African American beneficiaries are dependent on Social Security for at least half of their income and 40 percent of them rely on it  for all of their income.  To learn more about the impact of Social Security on African Americans listen to the podcast of my Economic Perspectives interview with Max Richtman, President of NCPSSM: Max Richtman Interview.