The Church of the Bells

Annual VSEDC Legacy of African American Owned Businesses Celebration & Seminar

“Still Holding It Down…. Keeping the Legacy Alive”

EVENT TIME: 8:30am to 9:15am – Breakfast/Networking/Registration | Program: 9:30am to 11:30am|
EVENT LOCATION: Holman United Methodist Church | 3320 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018 |
ADMISSION: Free. Reservation requested. Respond by phone to (323) 789-4515 or online at www.tinyurl.com/VSEDCBHM2018 or www.vsedc.org to reserve your place.
HONOREES: Family & Community Businesses to be honored:
• Billy J., Sr. (Posthumously) and Michelle Hooper Family – Shell Gas and Mini-Mart – Legacy Business Honoree
• Houston Family/ Ivan J. and Ivan A. Houston – Golden State Mutual Insurance Pioneering Legacy Business Honoree
• Leon (Posthumously) Margarita Garr Walker Family – Garr Childcare Learning Institute – Legacy Business Honoree
• Percell M. Keeling – Simply Wholesome Restaurant – Community Rejuvenation Honoree
MC/MODERATOR: Co-Owner and Operations Partner of PCF Restaurant Management
VSEDC CONTACT: Gregory Burks, VSEDC Program Planning | PH: 323.753.2335 | gburks@vsedc.org
Honorees Event RSVP Contact: Sarah Moore | PH: 753.2335 | smoore@vsedc.org
General Event RSVP: PH: 323.789.4515 Online www.Vsedc.org or www.tinyurl.com/VSEDCBHM2018
EVENT MANAGER: Lura Daniels-Ball, 213.400.3489 luraball@gmail.com
PARKING: At Holman Church
INVITATIONS: Contact Sarah Moore 323.753.2335 for Hard Copy Invitations.

WHY: In celebration of Black History Month in Los Angeles, this Business event focuses on the challenges and opportunities that African American Family-Owned Businesses face. Attendees can learn firsthand about the challenges and successes of owning, operating and transitioning a family enterprise from successful family owned and operated businesses. Creating generational wealth is also examined in this unique culturally infused event. Each business is honored and highlighted for their economic and inspirational impact in the communities where they conduct their business.
WHO: Presented by the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation BusinessSource Center. Co-Sponsored by Holman United Methodist Church, LA BusinessSource, LA Economic and Workforce Development Department and Torrey Pines Bank.
MORE INFO: By convening these businesses and professionals, VSEDC continues to live out its mission to provide free comprehensive business resources, training, access to capital and a vast network of business services that help small business build, thrive and grow. Past honorees: Harold & Belles’, Honey’s Kettle Bakery & Restaurant, Eric and Erik Johnson, LA Business Printing, Stephen Randolph, Sr. and Stephen Randolph, Jr., Chambers Shoes, Chef “Red” Wallace & Chef Nate, Red’s Flavor Table & Catering.


About Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) www.vsedc.org – Main Office: 1130 W. Slauson Avenue. Los Angeles, CA 90044. – The Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) is a community-based non-profit organization located in South Los Angeles. Established in 1981 as a citizen advisory committee by Mayor Tom Bradley in response to the South LA community’s concern regarding the closing of a Sears Department Store, the organization began operations in 1981.
At-A-Glance:
• Vermont Slauson Shopping Center: 10 acres, 175K anchored by CVS/Superior markets sustaining 450 jobs.
• Vermont Slauson Retail Center: 4 acres, anchored by El Super Market, Yoshinoya and Jack-in-the-Box sustaining 180 jobs.
• Business Enterprise Center: 10K business training facility located at 6109 S. Western Ave., LA.
• Western/Slauson Business Center: 18k industrial center houses manufacturing businesses employing 35.
• VSEDC South Los Angeles BusinessSource Center: one of 9 city contractors providing technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses.

• Most recently VSEDC in a joint venture with the LA Economic Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and the City of Los Angeles have co-located the UAW Worksource Center to the BEC on Western serving 230 South LA resident with employment services and bringing 1.5 million dollars of services to the South LA community.
Over the past 4 years, VSEDC has served over 1100 clients, launched 126 new businesses, provided 82 small business loans totaling 15.8 million dollars and equally as important, created and retained 677 jobs.
About the BusinessSource Center South Region (BEC) ● 6109 S. Western Ave., CA 90047
VSEDC continues to make an impact in the small business community in South Los Angeles by providing free entrepreneurial training, technical assistance and access to capital through the VSEDC BusinessSource Center. Serving the South Region of Los Angeles, VSEDC provides a suite of no-cost business services that help businesses start, operate and expand in Los Angeles.
Services are delivered primarily at VSEDC’s Business Enterprise Center which is a micro-business incubator which offers affordable office space and support services for start-up and established businesses. Services provided include:
• Business services
• Employee hiring/workforce development
• Access to capital
• Business plan development
• Tax incentives and credits
• Business courses
Services are delivered via the following components.
1. Entrepreneurial Training Program
2. Technical Assistance
3. Loan Assistance & Packaging
4. Seminars, Forums & Networking
5. Office Space Rental