Economic Development

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is constantly seeking to develop economic development initiatives intended to improve the financial status of African Americans through homeownership and other wealth-building programs.

SHOP for Wealth
SHOP for Wealth, formerly known as the Student Homeownership Opportunity Program, is a two-hour seminar that provides students at historically black colleges and universities with the opportunity to learn about financial literacy and ways to begin building wealth immediately. Our SHOP for Wealth presentation includes information concerning credit and debt, financial fitness, the three keys to wealth, and how to get started now. The principal objective of the program is to educate young people about the importance of managing money smartly, establishing good credit habits, recognizing the potential hazards of easy credit and building wealth through homeownership.

Economic Development Forums
For years, CBCF has worked hard to bridge the wealth gap between African Americans and others. Poorly-informed decisions and lack of up-to-date financial tools have adversely impacted the current lives and futures of many. In 2007, we partnered with CITI (formerly Citibank) to launch the Economic Empowerment Forum Series in an effort to address the wealth gap in the African American community and help African Americans take control of their financial destinies. The forum is a one day conference where participants have the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics from leading financial experts, including debt management, poor credit, saving and investment, creating wealth, and more. These free workshops are designed to bring important financial matters and tangible skill sets to the forefront, with expert advice and solutions for different levels of readiness.

Small Business Opportunities
To help expand economic opportunities for African Americans, CBCF is partnering with ServiceMaster to offer the Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship to current and prospective business owners. For more information about this program, please visit www.ownafranchise.com/battierprogram/win.asp.