The 2010 Black Business Conference is open to African-American entrepreneurs in Detroit on March 31. The event is designed for people serious about starting a business and will run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit.

Opening remarks will feature Mayor Dave Bing, and Sandy K. Baruah, incoming Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO, will deliver the luncheon keynote address.

Currently in its ninth annual offering, the Black Business Conference is sponsored by Chase, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. The five workshops will cover the following topics:

• Small-business funding through U.S. Small Business Administration guaranteed loans and the American Recovery Act
• Professional advice on how to start a small business
• Minority business certification guidelines for government or corporate supplier contracts
• Non-traditional funding sources for small businesses
• Social media marketing tips

“Now more than ever, Michigan is dependent upon its small businesses to revitalize our economy,” said Richard Temkin, district director of SBA’s Michigan district office. “We will provide information on the programs SBA has in place, including the Recovery Act, to help conference attendees.”

Head to Businesswire for the full release and registration information.

Hustletown readers: Are you in the Detroit area and/or planning to attend this conference? We welcome your feedback!

“Far too often, minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs encounter hurdles to getting capital, contracts and other assistance to help them succeed in the marketplace,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “Making sure we do all we can to remove these hurdles is a top priority for SBA and the Obama Administration.”

MBRT is a national membership organization for minority CEOs that serves as a unified voice for minority businesses. The strategic alliance is part of SBA’s ongoing effort to support small business development initiatives in underserved communities.

Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, minority-owned small businesses have received more than $4 billion in SBA-backed loans, about 23 percent of the more than $18.5 billion in small business lending SBA has supported under the Recovery Act. Minority-owned businesses continue to account for about 29 percent of the agency’s overall lending and 37 percent of its microloans, according to Businesswire.com.

Minority-owned small businesses also have reportedly received more than $3 billion worth of federal contracts under the Recovery Act, although there are rumblings in the African American community that the funding does not always reach Black businesses.

Hustletown Readers, how do your community’s Black businesses fare in 2010? Let us know in our comments section!