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South Bend edevelopment Commission <br />Special Mee ing June 4, 1979 <br />2. OLD BUSINESS (continued) <br />Mr. Green continued with his document.......... <br />Black businesses throughout the country have had a difficult <br />time surviving. If you travel the length and breath of the United States, <br />you will find three hundred businesses owned and operated by blacks, <br />employing ten people or more. The city of South Bend only has one <br />business venture meeting the above criteria. Local black businessmen not <br />only ha ire to contend with the failure of local lending institutions to <br />extend credit and an unwillingness of white businessmen to extend a <br />helping hand. They must now be ever conscious of redevelopment efforts <br />that destroy the small business gains already made. <br />Thee is a tendency known to blame the poor for their poverty and <br />to placo the burden on the least equipped to provide remedies. The mayor <br />of South Bend recently blamed west side businessmen for the breakdown of <br />law and order. Surely the city has greater resources for maintaining <br />law and order, then west side businessmen. The city of South Bend should <br />muster its economic resources and develop a Minority Enterprise Revolving <br />Fund (M E.R.F.). The NIERF should be funded with not less than five <br />million dollars. Funds should be made available to high risk black <br />enterprises through loans carrying no more than 20 interest. Minority <br />enterprises should be able to obtain loans for periods up to twenty -five <br />years. The city of South Bend should declare the entire West Washington <br />Street area a redevelopment zone, set aside for the development of <br />minority enterprises. Five year tax credit programs should be made <br />available to any one starting a business in the area. Technical assistance <br />should be offered to persons participating in the MERF. <br />Redevelopment should cease to be a "catch word" for black neighborhood <br />and black business removal. The city's legislative body, administrative <br />body and judicial body should implement policies that will give new meaning <br />to the term redevelopment. <br />"Willie V. Green, Jr." <br />The Chair then recognized Mr. Cronk, a private businessman ....... <br />Mr. Cro I would like to make a few comments based on what <br />Mr. Kevin Butler said regarding the receiving of only one bid I am sorry <br />that I id not see the "legal notice ". I don't normally read all of <br />the legal notices, and since it was only in the paper once, I missed it. <br />Otherwise, I would have submitted a bid myself. To me, the value that <br />you are getting for this land is too low. What Mr. Green says has a <br />lot of merit, not only for the black business, but all small businesses. <br />I think last fall, when I spoke with Mr. Ellison, I was led to believe <br />that the property had already been sold, therefore, there was nothing <br />that I could do about it. The "legal notice" also irritates me from <br />the standpoint that it is deceiving. You say you want to dispose of <br />the property, yet you reserve the right to choose what type of businesses <br />go in there. To me, the legal notice should have been that way. At this <br />point, I would suggest that you re- evaluate and go for a higher bid or <br />better proposal. <br />