President and CEO of the National Urban League, Marc H. Morial
As we continue to honor Black History Month, it’s important to discuss how entrepreneurship can be at the heart of civil rights. Recent years have shown the importance of corporate ownership in historically underserved communities, but there inequalities persist in areas such as access to capital and federal contracts.
Founded in 1910, the National Urban League (ZERO) now has more than 90 affiliates serving 300 communities in 36 states and Washington, DC, committed to helping African Americans and others in underserved communities achieve their highest true social equality, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights. NUL supports small businesses and entrepreneurship among historically underserved communities as an important part of their agenda.
As president of the National Urban League, Marc H. Morial is leading these efforts. Through his work as a former mayor of New Orleans and in his current role, Mr. Morial seen the important role small businesses play in their communities.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Morial. I appreciate that he took the time to talk to me, and below is a summary of our conversation.
Rhett Buttle: Everyone knows the mission of the National Urban League (ZERO), but many don’t know that small businesses and entrepreneurship are a priority. Tell us about ZERO and how small businesses fit into it.
Marc Morial: The National Urban League is the nation’s largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of African Americans and other underserved communities. Through our network of 92 affiliates serving more than 300 communities and more than 3 million people in 36 states and the District of Columbia, we break down barriers and address challenges faced by these small business owners: development and growth of customers, securing contracts and access to capital.
Urban League affiliates operate 12 Entrepreneurship Centers, providing management consulting, mentoring and training services focused on the development of managerial skills that enable minority entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, obtain financing or contracts, and maintain or create jobs.
Rhett Buttle: From serving as mayor of New Orleans to leading one of the most powerful civil rights organizations, you’ve constantly fought for economic justice for minority communities. In what ways have you seen the impact of economic justice in our country?
Marc Morial: Through our research, advocacy, and close collaboration with Congress and the White House, the National Urban League has successfully delivered many of the key elements of our economic justice agenda, as outlined in The Marshall Plan Main Streeta comprehensive blueprint for addressing racial opportunity gaps and economic inequality, and The Lewis Latimer Plan to close the digital divide. Our priorities are reflected in the provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to modernize railways, roads, bridges and airports; create hundreds of thousands of new highly skilled jobs; tackling the climate crisis; broaden access to high-speed internet; and investing in minority business opportunities.
Rhett Buttle: You and I have talked a lot about taking advantage of all the major federal investment opportunities coming up — the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan. How do you see these efforts and what do they mean for small businesses?
Marc Morial: The National Urban League is proud to have supported and advocated for major economic initiatives led by the Biden-Harris administration, including the American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, all of which potential to dramatically advance economic justice in our country.
Minority entrepreneurs need three things. I like to call them the three C’s: customers, contracts and capital. We are committed to ensuring that through these historic legislative vehicles, opportunities for the communities we serve remain at the forefront.
Therefore, it is critical that we hold the federal government accountable in enforcing the provisions in these laws that are designed to prioritize grants, federal contract opportunities, and working capital for small and minority businesses.
Rhett Buttle: You recently partnered with other organizations to launch Build Up Local. Tell us more about why and what it means?
Marc Morial: Build Up Local is a project we established with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and other partners as a one-stop shop for all business owners – with a special focus on those in systematically excluded communities of color – to learn on resources and programs made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
We created this platform to help close the racial wealth gap by helping minority businesses understand the BIL while connecting them with the resources they need to access the contracting opportunities offered by this landmark legislation. The BIL created an incredible opportunity to build more equity with companies and contractors. That’s why we started Build locally.
Rhett Buttle: What tactical support does the National Urban League provide to small businesses?
Marc Morial: In 2021 alone, more than 29,000 Urban League Entrepreneurship Center participants provided more than $119 million in funding and contracting opportunities, creating or saving nearly 1,000 jobs. Other National Urban League initiatives to create economic empowerment within these communities include:
- The U.S. Small Business Administration Community Navigator Pilot Program — a $5 million, two-year program — reaching thousands of underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them recover from the effects of COVID-19.
- The Black Restaurant Accelerator program to address barriers faced by black-owned food service businesses.
Small businesses can learn more about these efforts and other entrepreneurship resources offered by the National Urban League at https://nul.org/program/entrepreneurship.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.