Building on its fourth-quarter success in 2009, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) and its first founding partner, IBM, have announced the expansion of the NGLCC/IBM Business Development Scholarship.
The scholarship is designed to foster business development for eligible LGBT-owned businesses seeking certification for the first time by underwriting all or part of the cost of certification.
"Together with IBM, we are sincere about doing all we can to foster economic growth and opportunity for LGBT business owners during these difficult economic times," said Jeremy Fegley, certification specialist and manager of supplier diversity at the NGLCC. "Certification is a key tool in securing new clients and taking your business to the next level," said Fegley.
Certification allows businesses that are at least 51-percent owned, operated and controlled by an LGBT person or persons to become a part of the diverse supply chain at America's top corporations, and is based on certification system established for minority- and women-owned businesses.
"Columbia Consulting is proof that the system works," said Sam Lehman, co-founder of Columbia Consulting Group. "We signed a deal with a Fortune 100 company as a result of our association with NGLCC."
LGBT business owners can learn more about the scholarship and certification process at http://www.nglcc.org/programs/supplierdiversity/scholarship or by contacting the NGLCC supplier diversity team at supplierdiversity@nglcc.org or 202-234-9181.
