PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
A. Brief Description of the organization’s history and mission
The Office of Urban Initiatives, Inc. (OUI) was created based on the recommendation of a commission established by the Buffalo Common Council in 1988 to determine the cause of widespread poverty in Buffalo. The commission’s final report concluded that poverty in Buffalo was due to a lack of job opportunities for business ownership in underdeveloped neighborhoods. OUI was incorporated in October 1991 as a 501-(c)(3) organization with the mission of assisting in the formation and development of minority-owned businesses. OUI has three explicit goals: (1) to identify and assist minority-owned and women-owned enterprises in taking advantage of new and emerging business opportunities; (2) to build models of business development that will strengthen minority enterprises and increase their competitiveness; and (3) to provide select businesses with direct services that will help them grow, develop, and expand their share of the market.
OUI’s 152 members include economic development organizations, such as the Amherst Industrial Development Agency, Buffalo Economic Development Corporation, Erie County Industrial Development Agency, and the Empire State Development Corporation; community-based organizations, such as the Buffalo Urban League and Coalition for Economic Justice; and educational entities, such as the SUNY at Buffalo Center for Urban Studies. In addition, OUI membership includes 62 individual members, and of significant note, 50 minority and women-owned businesses located in Buffalo and Erie County.
B. Organization’s current programs, synopsis of 1996 activities, and recent accomplishments
The Business Opportunity Program
The Business Opportunity Program (BOP) remains the cornerstone of economic development activities undertaken by OUI. The BOP program has a working relationship with Erie County’s Division of Purchase to provide M/WBE firms with information on the county’s invitations to bid for buying commodities. OUI’s current goal is to take BOP to the next level of procurement assistance. Procurement in Erie County is a huge, but largely untapped market for women-owned and minority-owned firms.
Recent Accomplishments - BOP
1997-98 goals:
1) Community Outreach: OUI will play a more active role in reaching out to minority and women-owned firms (M/WBE). OUI plans to conduct bimonthly community seminars at local community centers, on how neighborhood businesses can tap into the procurement market.
2) Procurement Fair: OUI will hold a procurement fair in February (Black History Month), of 1998, in co-sponsorship with other local economic development and community agencies. The goal of the procurement fair is to familiarize local firms with the M/WBE certification process, the bidding process, and the wide range of public/private sector procurement opportunities available.
ADVANCE Trend letter
OUI distributes a two-page, monthly trend letter. ADVANCE focuses exclusively on business, economic and community development trends facing minority and women-owned entrepreneurs and residents of underdeveloped neighborhoods. Over the last year, OUI distributed 12 issues to a readership of 2,500.
Idea Xchange: A Business, Economic and Community Development Digest
The Idea Xchange is a quarterly digest that focuses on model business, economic and community development programs, funding sources and other issues impacting on the development of minority and women-owned businesses. Circulation of the Idea Xchange is approximately 500 readers, and includes OUI members, minority and women entrepreneurs participating in the Business Opportunity Program and select economic and community development organizations.
Business Information Network: Business and Community Development Forum and M/WBE Business Directory
OUI, in partnership with the City of Buffalo’s Alliance for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Advancement and the Erie County Industrial Agency, completed a comprehensive directory of 340 minority and women-owned businesses located in Erie County.
1997-98 goals:
1) The 1997 Business and Community Development Forum. OUI will provide three workshops on the following topics: 1) taxation and finance issues, 2) marketing small businesses, and 3) record keeping and management skills for small businesses. Participants will learn how to access local services available to M/WBE businesses by working hands-on with local professionals, and by participating in round table discussions.
2) The Minority and Women-Owned Business Directory and Database Project. OUI’s goal is to develop a detailed, online information database of the M/WBE firms which will (1) assist public policy makers in developing relevant programs and service delivery strategies to meet the needs of M/WBEs and (2) provide information to assist private firms in obtaining information on the goods and services that M/WBE firms offer.
50/50 Micro Lending Program
OUI, in partnership with area financial institutions, the Regional Development Corporation of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, and the University of Buffalo Center for Urban Studies, is developing a program aimed at increasing access to business financing for home-based and small retail minority and women-owned businesses in metro Buffalo. The loan program will also provide the businesses an opportunity to interact with other support service providers, which will help them increase their viability. The Micro-Loan Program will provide financial assistance in the range of $2,500 to $10,000 for working capital, small equipment purchases, and other business needs. It will be accessible to minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses that operate in Buffalo and Erie County.
Accomplishments - Micro Lending Program
1997-98 Implementation Plan:
A. Marketing information hot line for the 50/50 program: All potential participants are required to attend one of the bimonthly one-hour sessions.
B. Orientation Sessions will be divided into three sections:
1. Introduction Section: Participants will be required to attend a 10-15 minute history of OUI and information on the 50/50 Micro-Lending Program.
2. Technical Assistance Providers Section: OUI will coordinate with area technical service providers to help participants gain insights on how to write a business plan and other financial statements.
3. Financial Assistance Section: Participants will be given the requirements to access the 50/50 Micro Lending Program.
What makes this program unique is the linking of technical assistance to the loan program, and the follow-up service to the participants.
C. Outside of funding the greatest challenging facing OUI
The greatest challenge facing OUI is the promotion of minority and women-owned business development as a vehicle to create jobs, produce community wealth, and build strong neighborhoods.
D. Names and titles of senior staff and number of staff
Mr. Antoine Thompson serves as executive director, and Dr. Henry L. Taylor, Jr. serves as President. Four part-time graduate assistants from the University of Buffalo and one part-time intern from Buffalo State College staff OUI. OUI also receives in-kind support of two professional staff assistants, one faculty member, and clerical support from the University of Buffalo Center for Urban Studies. Staff are supported by an active 23 member volunteer Board of Directors.