WHY WHEN AND HOW TO START A BUSINESS
March 4, 2020
Hosted by Bob Dickerson
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
Today Bob Dickerson has a great show discussing Why, When and How to start a business. He gives valuable information on resources and organizations that can assist in your small business journey.
NTHBLK: In The Black
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Business Channel
NTHBLK (In the Black), will focus on socio-economic issues that affect Americans, especially black Americans and provide ideas to empower the black community in this country. While Blacks comprise 13 percent of the population, the group's wealth pales in comparison to other ethnic groups. Our title, NTHBLK, mirrors the social commentary that the host has provided on the nationally syndicated Myriad Gospel Music Countdown for over 20 years. While the connotation of Black is generally negative in literary annals, except when one looks at financial conditions. Then being “in the black” is positive. Discussions regarding closing the racial wealth gap, improving education and educational outcomes, national politics, business growth, development and challenges, community development, advocacy, and activism are among the many that will be explored on NTHBLK.
Bob Dickerson
Bob Dickerson has spent his career finding ways to get money into the hands of people. For years, he did it as a commercial and consumer lending officer while working at several large financial institutions. Today, he does it as the Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center and Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Capital, a Small Business Administration Certified Development Company.
Bob founded the BBRC in 1996 after realizing there was no program in Birmingham that combined loan programs with capacity building and advocacy – three things every business needs to succeed. Bob secured the support of Birmingham elected officials, and various development companies and boards to start the BBRC. What he ended up with was an organization that has become a “one-stop-shop” for small business financing and technical assistance. The programs the BBRC manages have produced nearly 900 million in loans to businesses since 1996.
Bob graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1973 with a degree in business administration. He is a member of several foundations, boards, and civic organizations. Bob and the BBRC received the national “Access to Capital” award from the Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency and “Executive of the Year” from the Birmingham Business Alliance. The married father of four adult children and three grands is an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.
