From Deseret News archives:
Black business still has eye on dream
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr. Monday at the Ogden Branch NAACP's annual Prayer Breakfast, Ellington said, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
Ellington invoked the words of the late civil rights leader as he put out a call for volunteers to get over in-fighting and help each other build a vibrant business community.
"I see that black business development in Ogden is dying off," he said, adding that a lack of resources and development makes a community invisible.
As a case in point, he asked if any city officials were present. No one spoke.
"Look outside ... at that big old megaplex. We should have been part of that process," Ellington said. "If we don't pull ourselves together, we will continue to be non-existent."
"We all know businesses, especially small businesses, are the backbone of freedom and empowerment," Sawyer said. "If we have no money, that limits a lot of what we do."
When Ogden's railroad days ended, the city's economy declined and many businesses closed, said Alan Hall, founder and chairman of the Ogden-based Grow Utah Ventures.
Hall said there are plenty of organizations like his with resources to help businesses establish a foothold, but there's also plenty of competition. Last year, his organization supported only seven of 700 companies it reviewed.
He'd invite black entrepreneurs to participate, Hall said, but like with any business, success takes advertising, networking and a solid business plan.
Hall said a local branch of the Black Chamber of Commerce can only help.
"I think it's good anytime people can network," Hall said. "That's what chambers tend to do. They help one another, if people join and go to meetings. Those are very powerful things."
On Monday, Ellington pledged to help the community develop a strategy for success.
"We are ready to have a full 2008, full of action," he said. "So that in 2009, I can have a report back to you."
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com
Recent comments
I have no affiliation with any chamber but common sense tells me that...
Mark Lee | Jan. 23, 2008 at 8:05 a.m.
- Sandy may give $10K to bowl game 12:45 a.m.
- Mayors compete for charity 12:43 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:42 a.m.
- Attorney given report on Taser death 12:41 a.m.
- Charges possible in Roy shooting 12:40 a.m.
- Man sentenced for assault, stalking 12:39 a.m.
- Man pleads in drug-beating death 12:39 a.m.
- Aggie women beat Montana Tech 12:35 a.m.
- QB Borel receives USU honor 12:33 a.m.
- Dixie St. campus briefs 12:30 a.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
114 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...
I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...
hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...
play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...
I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...
That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...
I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...
I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...
BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...
i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!


