our Mission
Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce (HBCC) is a non-profit organization. We partner with all types of businesses owned-and-operated by black business entrepreneurs. Our core focus is on the launching, developing, promoting, sustaining, and growth of the black community. Mr. Leroy Tombs founded the Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce in 2004. Tombs gained prominence as the owner of Tombs & Sons, which held federal contracts to provide food and maintenance services for military bases throughout the country. The Kansas Black Chamber (KBCC) is committed to developing and strengthening black businesses in the State of Kansas. It is the goal of KBCC to provide resources to connect new and existing businesses to resources that promote prosperous growth. This growth will enable us as individual owners, and as a chamber to support our community.
This program will be powered by the Heartland Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Black Excellence KC (BXKC). In 2022 Heartland Chamber and BXKC will open registration to their members and select 40 participants for the 10-month fellowship program. The cohort will develop tailored skills that will prepare them to represent the black community on Kansas Citys Civic, Non-Profit and Corporate Boards.
Resident Platform
Our resident platform provides your direct connection to the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the HBCC, you have the opportunity to market your business to consumers visiting the HBCC website.
Areas We Serve
- Missouri
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Nebraska
Our Goal
At HBCC, our goal is to advocate and lobby on behalf of members. We focus on establishing programs and partnership opportunities for them to expand their resources.
Economic Empowerment
There is a great need to help establish black businesses in the four-state regions. Based on current economic and education trends, it is evident there is enormous potential for a business resource program (incubator) to expand its role. This can be achieved by participating in community economic development within the context of emerging as a catalyst to bring business services for black business entrepreneurs to the forefront.
Today Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce continues the mission set by Mr. Tombs. We have taken his mission and expanded it to reach the four Midwest Region 7 states (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, & Kansas, aka MINK). We are intentional in our focus and advocacy to connect, grow and promote black businesses in and around this region.
There is a great need to help establish small minority businesses in the four-state regions. Based on current economic and education trends, it is evident there is enormous potential for a business resource program (incubator) to expand its role. This can be achieved by participating in community economic development within the context of emerging as a catalyst to bring business services for minority business entrepreneurs and women business entrepreneurs (M/WBE) to the forefront.
Research confirms that during the past 15 years, there have been many changes in our nation’s economy that impact local economies. Employment growth has shifted from manufacturing to services. And while small businesses account for much of the United States’ job growth, start-up businesses have a failure rate of 80 percent during their first four years of operation. With increased importance placed on small firms, the reduction of this failure rate has become the focus of many developers and federal programs. Minority chambers offer one method for reducing this high failure rate.
Corporate Partners
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