Bremerton -- “Bremerton has an attitude problem,” said Mayor Cary Bozeman while addressing a group of minority businesses at the Small Business Economic Development Seminar hosted by the NAACP last month at Olympic College.

 

According to event participants and organizers, this was nothing new to them, especially when it comes to the city’s efforts in working with minority businesses. What most were hoping to hear was how the city would include minority participation in Bremerton’s $200 million revitalization efforts already underway. According to Mayor Bozeman, he knows that there’s still a lot to be done in this area and he wants the opportunity to work with minority businesses to address their concerns.

 

This economic development seminar was just one of several efforts undertaken by the NAACP Bremerton Branch this year to address their Economic Empowerment Initiative—Bridging the Gap. Other areas of focus have included education and health care disparity awareness stated Vice President Ray Rogers. We’ve tried to coordinate our local efforts to match those at the national level of the NAACP noted President Gwendolyn Shepherd.

 

The event’s planning committee began meeting last July according to Chairperson Pastor Danny Allen. “Our goal was to locate and identify minority businesses to participate in Bremerton’s revitalization efforts,” he said. And as a result of these meetings he added, “We’ve identified more than 30 minority businesses who expressed an interest in this.

 

“I hoped that the event would empower women and minority business owners to put themselves in a position to capture a portion of the economic benefit as a result of Bremerton’s revitalization,” said Ray Hill, one of the event organizers and small business owners.

 

Other seminar speakers included representatives from the City of Bremerton, the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises, the Northwest Minority Business Council and Olympic College. The information presented covered topics such as: how to start a business including the licensing procedures, contracting with the city, county and state, and available educational classes and workshops. click here to see entire event photos