BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER (BBRC) CELEBRATES ITS TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN 2007

The Birmingham Business Resource Center (BBRC) is in the midst of celebrating its Ten Year Anniversary with special commemorative events all year long.  According to Executive Director Robert (Bob) Dickerson “This has been one of the more rewarding endeavors of my career and I am happy to have had the opportunity to serve the City of Birmingham and its surrounding communities.”

Combining programs that provide access to capital with related technical assistance was the mandate under which the BBRC was created in 1996.  Its mission was, and still is to insure the growth and sustainability of area businesses.  Over the past 10 years the BBRC has demonstrated its ability to manage loan programs, provide access to capital, expand technical assistance and offer entrepreneurial education to local business owners.  During its existence the BBRC has overseen the origination of over $100 million dollars in loans to area small businesses, many of whom could not otherwise receive financial assistance were it not for the BBRC.  The BBRC has also contributed to the development of over 5257 jobs statewide.

The BBRC is truly concerned with the growth and development of local businesses and has worked very hard to provide the financial resources and the technical expertise entrepreneurs need to succeed. One key example of this was reflected in 2001 when Mr. John Etheridge of Etheridge Brothers Barber Shop was recognized for his achievements and received the Small Business Award during the Second Annual Small Business Recognition Banquet.  Etheridge Brothers is a good example of a successful, family owned and operated business that has been in existence since 1963.  In his humble acceptance speech John Etheridge gave personal thanks and gratitude to the BBRC for believing in his business by giving him the financial means necessary to sustain and grow into a company that now has over seven locations. 
  
In looking back at its community development efforts the BBRC has also spearheaded other events such as the A G Gaston Conference which provides business owners with the tools necessary to achieve economic empowerment.  Now in its third year, the A G Gaston Conference continues to be one of the key events dedicated to the social and economic enrichment of Birmingham’s small businesses community.  Some of  BBRC’s other notable achievements include the creation of a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Community Development Entity (CDE), the facilitation of FastTrac ® entrepreneurial education classes, the creation of a statewide micro association (Alabama Microenterprise Network (AMEN) and serving as intermediary for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Microlending Program.