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OCTOBER 12-18, 2016
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
BUSINESS
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the intent was to hear from people about their concerns on issues related to affordable housing, employment, development of Black businesses, as well as other quality of life problems that affect distressed communities in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition is a group comprised of Councilpersons R. Daniel Lavelle and Rev. Ricky Burgess, State Representatives Jake Wheatley and Gainey, and County Councilman Dewitt Walton. It is a collaboration to advocate for peace and justice in the City of Pittsburgh. The first five roundtables were held in the neighborhoods of the North Side, the West End, the Hill District, the South Side and the East End in September. Approximately 500 Pittsburgh residents are reported to have participated in the six sessions. Other statistics pointed out and addressed at the October 4 meeting focused on the six topics of discussion. In the business and organization area the report indicated that African Americans in Pittsburgh are not starting businesses despite the spike in business ownership among Blacks in other similar size cities. Nationwide, 79 percent of new women-owned firms launched since 2007, were started by women of color but in 2002, Pittsburgh had the 6th smallest number of Black-owned firms among the top 40 metro regions in the country. In attendance to voice her opinion, LaToya JohnsonRainey the owner of A Hair Boutique in Shady Side was excited about the opportunity to share her business experiences as well as to learn what entrepreneurs are doing to excel in their businesses in other parts of the city. “We need more outlets like this,” she said. Later in the discussion the same sentiment was expressed during the business and organizations report. Articulating
that there is a lack of knowledge of resources, a solution was for information to be housed in the offices of the sponsoring politicians. Topic facilitators for the women’s roundtables were Darcel Madkins; Cofounder of African American Leadership Association, Lois Mufuka Martin; Chief Volunteer Engagement Officer for the United Way, Cynthia Mendoza; founder of Brown Mamas, Demeshia Seals; a General Community Representative, Nicole Webster; Corporate Liaison for Accenture and Marissa Williams; Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition outline that the next steps will include processing the survey data, key findings and recommendations into summary form by mid-October. Tentatively Nov.1 a city-wide community meeting is scheduled at the Hill House Kaufmann Center for findings to be revealed to the community and by midNovember a draft outline of the Peace and Justice Initiative Policy document will be available for internal review with the anticipation that the completed document will be available by mid- December. “This has to be an ongoing process because there are ongoing issues within our communities that need to be addressed,” Gainey said. He and Wheatley agree that the attendees and participants in the roundtables are ready for a change. Their aim is to put a plan together that everyone can be helped by, something to mobilize the community. Wheatley acknowledged that since 2012 efforts have been underway to gather Blacks to discuss collective issues. “After years and years of trying to organize, we are committed to working together, to providing the leadership that it takes and committed to making change. It requires being honest and cohesiveness,” he said.
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ball teams and love to play sports. They are looking forward to growing their new sneaker light business to be successful young entrepreneurs.
To support their crowdfunding campaign, visit https://igg.me/at/sneakerli ghts/x/3903652 (To learn more about the young brothers, you can visit www.sneakerlights.com.)
BUSINESS BUSINESS CALENDAR CALENDAR
MyBusiness Training Sessions OCT. 15, 22, & 29—The Chatham Women’s Business Center will present “MyBusiness Startup to Product Fall 2106, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Braun Hall, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA. 15232. This program includes intensive entrepreneurial training and is designed for women in the early stages of starting a product-based business. The deadline to apply is SEPT. 30. Cost is $300, $250 for members. Apply Online at https://www.survey monkey.com/r/startuproduct.
PowerBreakfast
THE REGION’S BLACK LEADERS—City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, State Representatives Jake Wheatley and Ed Gainey, City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess and County Councilman Dewitt Walton work together in helping the community address issues. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels) Gainey mentioned that this is the first time all the area Black elected officials have organized and are working together in such a way to bring change. He said the Mayor has challenged them to bring something to the table for him to work with. “Now we have to be on the same page to grow
this city. We have to stay focused. It’s going to take Blacks, women and the LGBT community to create a change.” The roundtables have been organized by the staff of the elected officials which includes Samantha Akers from Rep.Wheatley’s Office, Sierra Parm from County Council-
man Walton’s Office, Lori Criswell from Rep. Gainey’s Office and Marita Bradley from Councilman Rev. Burgess’s Office. Cassandra M. Williams, Community Relations Manager for the Office of Councilman Lavelle is the point of contact for the total Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition.
Top Black MLB exec leaving for McDonald’s NEW YORK (AP)— Wendy Lewis, among Major League Baseball’s highest-ranking Black executives, is leaving after two decades in the sport’s central office. The commissioner’s office said Wednesday that Lewis, its senior vice
president of diversity and strategic alliances, will become chief global diversity officer of McDonald’s Corp. Lewis started in baseball in the Chicago Cubs’ human resources department in 1987 and joined MLB eight years later.
More Americans drawn into job hunt WENDY LEWIS
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tructure spending to try to accelerate growth and hiring. And she wants to make college more affordable and community college free. Friday’s jobs report isn’t likely to affect the course of the election. But it reflected improvement in two key areas: job-hunting and pay. For much of the recovery, the proportion of Americans who either had a job or were looking for one had declined as an aging population increased the pace of retirements. Many unemployed people also grew discouraged and stopped looking. Others stayed in school or stayed at home caring for relatives. All that helped keep the unemployment rate down. People who are out of work aren’t counted as unemployed unless they’re actively searching for a job. Yet in the past year, the opposite has occurred: The jobless rate has remained mostly flat even as hiring has been solid. That’s because the proportion of adults either working or looking for work has increased from a 40-year low of 62.4 percent in September 2015 to 62.9 percent last month. That’s still far below pre-recession levels. But the proportion has increased even while many people in the vast baby boom generation have been retiring. The workforce—people either with a job or looking for one—has grown 3 million in the past year, the biggest 12-month gain since 2000. Pay is also ticking up. In September, average hourly pay rose 6 cents to $25.79 and is now 2.6 percent higher than it was a year ago. That’s stronger than the pace for most of the seven-year economic recovery, when pay was rising at only about 2 percent a year. The pay increases suggest that some employers are being forced to pay more to at-
tract workers. Minimum wage increases in many states have also likely contributed to the pay gains. The influx of job-seekers has likely kept pay gains from rising even further, economists said, because it means employers have more applicants to choose from. That’s a major reason Fed Chair Janet Yellen has held off raising rates this year. She wants the job market to continue to draw people off the sidelines. In the meantime, wages and inflation are unlikely to spike. “The Fed is right to not get too anxious about raising rates,’’ said Michael Dolega, senior economist at TD Bank. “There is more slack in the labor market.’’ In September, manufacturers shed jobs for a second month, cutting 13,000. Factories have struggled as businesses have reduced their spending on machinery and other equipment. That’s provided fodder for Trump, who has focused his economic proposals on restoring manufacturing jobs. Yet many high-paying services jobs, in sectors such as consulting, accounting and management, grew rapidly last month. Accounting and consulting firm EY plans to hire 15,000 in the year ending next June, though some of those hires will replace existing staff. The company, formerly known as Ernst & Young, has 45,000 U.S. employees. It’s seeking software developers and data analysts, in addition to accountants and business consultants. And it’s offering more family leave and a student loan repayment program to attract new hires. “As the economy gets better, attracting the best talent is more difficult,’’ says Dan Black, the company’s head of recruiting for the Americas.
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your beneficiaries whenever you have a life-changing event. This can be marriage, a divorce, birth of a child, death of a family member, setting up an estate plan, or any other personal reason that might affect who you want to receive the account. If you don’t remember who your beneficiaries are, ask your financial planner to provide a list of known beneficiaries for each account and insurance policy to make sure these individuals are still your desired beneficiaries. Beneficiaries and estate planning Your beneficiary designation will determine who will receive an account even if your estate planning documents state otherwise. Let’s say you remarry after you and your ex-spouse have been divorced for several years, and you unexpectedly pass away after some time. If you never changed the beneficiary designation of your retirement plan to your current spouse, the funds will pass to the former spouse. Choosing a beneficiary designation is a simple and effective estate planning strategy that allows the account to pass without
going through the probate process. The beneficiary, then, would have access to the funds more quickly. Other questions to consider Here are some other financial planning items everyone should consider each year: Is the executor or trustee listed in your will still willing and able to serve in that role? When was the last time you reviewed your estate plan? Does your current investment allocation in your retirement accounts match your age and risk tolerance? Do you have adequate life insurance on your family? Your CPA can help Selecting the proper beneficiary designations is just a small part of a comprehensive financial plan. A CPA financial planner can help you develop a plan to accomplish your financial goals, which may include planning for investments, retirement, taxes, education, insurance, budgeting, and your estate. Find a CPA near you, or visit www.picpa.org/moneyandlife for more estate planning tips.
OCT. 14—The African American Chamber of Commerce will host a presentation by Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Rivers Club in Oxford Center, downtown. Hahn will discuss the Opera’s upcoming season, including the production on the life of Josh Gibson. Cost is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Call 412-392-0610 for more information.
Vocational Training Open House OCT. 14—Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania will hold an open house for its RISE (Reentry through Industry Specific Education) Project from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at South Side Facility, 2400 East Carson Street. RISE participants receive a nationally recognized certification as they are trained and prepared for work in construction and maintenance fields. In the four years of the RISE Project’s existence, nearly 200 individuals have participated, resulting in job placement in positions such as skilled laborers in machine manufacturing, construction, concrete, roofing and furniture repair. Call Whitney Miles at 412632-1742 for more information.
Youth Development Workshop OCT. 19—The African American Chamber of Commerce will host a presentation by staff and students of the Holy Family Academy, from 8;30 to 11 a.m., 9th floor boardroom, Koppers Bldg., 635 Grant St., downtown. The presentation will highlight how the school provides highly-qualified, lowincome students with a quality education while helping build and maintain Pittsburgh’s skilled workforce. The presentation will demonstrate how the work study program helps close the employment to education gap for students. how your companies and organizations can benefit from this program. The workshop is free for Chamber members, $10 for non-members.
Financial Statements Workshop OCT. 20—Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center will host “Understanding Financial Statements, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Rockwell Hall, rm. 108, 600 Forbes Ave. Learn how to analyze current financial situation and project the impact of decisions, and own your numbers. A representative from Wilke & Associates will offer clear examples for using Profit abd Loss statements and Balance Sheets to make informed decisions, identify potential problems within your business and set realistic financial goals. Cost is $49. To register or for more information, call 412-396-6233.
Business Energy Efficiency Grants THROUGH APRIL 15—The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has to $1,000,000 of grant funding available in the 13th year of the Commonwealth’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program for small businesses that adopt or acquire equipment or processes that promote pollution prevention and/or energy efficiency projects. Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. Businesses can apply for 50 percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or procedures. Funding is eligible for those costs incurred between July 25, 2016 and June 30, 2017. For more information, contact the Small Business Ombudsman’s Office at 717-772-5160.