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