The Midlands African Chamber.
We connect, empower, and champion businesses.
Welcome to the Midlands African Chamber.
Founded in 2020, the Midlands African Chamber is a membership-based organization that exists to enhance the robust African and African American business climate in Nebraska and across the Midwest. All benefits, programs, and events of the Chamber are designed to give businesses the opportunity to make or save money, acquire knowledge and skills to help grow a network of successful entrepreneurs.
What we do
The Midlands African Chamber advocates for and represents the business interests and issues affecting the African and African American communities in Nebraska and the Midwest.
Advocacy & Support
Promotional Opportunities
News
As the year draws to a close, it's time for small businesses to gear up for the upcoming tax season. Join our friends at the USBC for "Prep & Protect: Year-End Tax Planning for Small Businesses", a comprehensive hybrid workshop designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners get tax-ready while safeguarding their financial health. This event, in partnership with Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC), Choctaw Nation Small Business Development, and Kiamichi Tech, will provide actionable insights into year-end tax strategies, maximizing deductions, and preparing financial records for 2025.Their expert presenter will guide you through best practices that can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure compliance, while equipping your business to thrive in the new year. Key Topics: Year-end tax planning strategies and deadlines Maximizing tax deductions and credits for small businesses Preparing accurate financial records for tax filing Common tax pitfalls and how to avoid them Tax-saving opportunities and protections for small businesses We'll have plenty of time for Q&A with the presenter at the end of the session! There will also be a Virtual Option and the Zoom link will be sent out 1 day before the event. Speaker(s): Three Birds Tax Service Co-Sponsor(s): OKSBDC Choctaw Nation Small Business Development Kiamichi Tech #SmallBusiness #TaxPlanning #YearEndTax #EntrepreneurTips #TaxStrategies #SmallBizSupport #BusinessWorkshop #FinancialHealth
Thank you FiberFirst for the invitation to attend today's Economic Outlook Luncheon with the Omaha Chamber. MAC was represented by our Operations Manager Fidele Mienso. Here are the key takeaways:2024 economic growth projections Labor market trends and workforce development strategies Emerging industries shaping Omaha's future#OmahaChamber #EconomicOutlook #BusinessInsights
Today, we had an impactful session on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Wellness for Founders as part of the MAC Xcelerator program. In week 8 of Cohort 4, we gathered at Modus Coworking for an insightful discussion about the unique challenges and opportunities founders of color face, as well as the importance of prioritizing wellness on the entrepreneurial journey.A huge thank you to Leressa Joiner and Shawntal Mallory for their powerful presentations that left our founders inspired and equipped with actionable strategies to thrive both in business and in life.#MACXcelerator #FoundersOfColor #EntrepreneurWellness #DEI #BlackExcellence #Week8 #Cohort4 #MidlandsAfricanChamber #Entrepreneurship
Thank you African Culture Connection and Eric Beba for an amazing performance at the Gratitude Gala 2024.
Thank you to our fabulous Gratitude Gala 2024 co chairs Tierra NaCole LaShonna Dorsey Cristina Castro Matukewicz and Taylor Johnson WOWT for their dedication and support!
North Omaha Turn-back Tax Committee Meeting save the date!
What our members are saying
I am glad to be a member of this great organization. They work hard to elevate your business. I have been accepted into the Fall 2024 Cohort “One Million Black Women: Black in Business program”. Thank you to the CEO karine Sokpoh who is very informative !
I don’t think it was a flute that I found the Midlands African Chamber. They put great effort into marketing themselves within the community. As an organization their missions involves helping BIPOC and immigrants by offering education, networking opportunities, mentorship, and more. I’ve been actively involved with their programs for “only” 6 months and I’ve gotten rewarded so much more than I would’ve expected.If you fit their target demographic, definitely give them a chance and check out what they can offer you!
The Midlands African Chamber is the organization that helped me building stronger connexions and more visibility for my real estate business. The MAC provides many resources, useful for businesses and individuals. I recommend to join the Midlands African Chamber, today!
We have been able to access great networking events to grow our business. I would recommend you joining!
MAC Foundation
The MAC Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Midlands African Chamber organized as a 501(c)(3) corporation exclusively for charitable, educational, and cultural purposes in the state of Nebraska.
The Foundation provides a mechanism to establish, administer and finance programs that enhance the robust African and African American communities’ crucial needs, in line with the goals of the Midlands African Chamber.
If you have any questions about the Foundation or would like to discuss ways in which you can become involved in its work, please contact us.
MAC Programs and Initiatives
MAC Xcelerator
The MAC Xcelerator (MAC-X) is an enterprise accelerator program designed to strengthen, energize, and support startups and small businesses led by BlPOC entrepreneurs in Nebraska and throughout the Midlands. MAC-X identifies black business leaders with impact-oriented solutions, addressing essential community needs while spurring sustainable growth.
In order to cater to a wide audience, the MAC-X program will be held biannually, with one session in the Fall and another in the Spring. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to receive financial incentives and may choose to apply for the Pitch Black competition. However, being part of the MAC-X program does not guarantee participation in the Pitch Black competition or finale.
Completing the MAC-X program will enable cohort members to receive up to $ 1,000 in seed funds.
Pitch Black
Pitch Black is a dynamic conference strategically crafted to fuel entrepreneurship across diverse communities in the Midwest. Our event showcases prominent speakers, a business exposition, and an exciting business pitch competition. The competition is specifically tailored to offer a platform for emerging BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) as well as immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas. Participants have the opportunity to compete for a grand prize of up to $15,000, complemented by invaluable in-kind support surpassing $40,000. This support extends to essential services such as marketing, legal, and accounting, providing crucial assistance for their ventures.
Join the MAC and Pitch Black in promoting entrepreneurship in the black and minority communities in Nebraska, and the Midwest. We need businesses and community partners like you, in order to make this happen.
Suit Up Program
The mission of the Midlands African Chamber’s Suit Up Program is to empower young men and women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, headshot, and job readiness workforce preparation.
This program is designed to create opportunities for teens and young adults in at-risk populations in black and brown, immigrant, and refugee communities so as to inspire and feed the pipeline of future minority entrepreneurs.
Rising CEOs
Rising CEOs is a Leadership and Entrepreneurship program which is made possible by grants of the Omaha Community Foundation, Sherwood Foundation and Weitz Foundation.
The program's goal is to foster entrepreneurial spirit, technology, and leadership skills among at-risk young black and brown girls and boys, between the ages of 14 to 19 years. It is designed to create opportunities for teens in at-risk populations in black and brown, immigrant and refugee communities so to inspire and feed the pipeline of future minority entrepreneurs.
Members Emergency Fund
Our fundamental mission is to connect, empower, and champion black businesses. We believe in the transformative power of unity and collaboration, and the MAC Emergency Fund embodies our dedication to standing by our members when they need it most.
We recognize that unexpected events can jeopardize the very foundations of a business, and our goal is to ensure that our members are well-equipped and well-supported to ensure the continuity of their operations.
Scholarship Fund
The MAC Foundation Scholarships have been established to assist Black, refugee, and immigrant high school seniors and college students studying Accounting, Finance, Law, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). We are pleased to announce the MAC Foundation Scholarship application is open to applicants. We recognize the financial pressure that students frequently experience, and our scholarships program aims to ease some of that burden. Our scholarships are intended to help deserving students who demonstrate a strong commitment to their studies and a passion for their chosen disciplines. We provide $1,000 one-time scholarships that can be utilized for tuition and books.
Contractors Connect
Contractors Connect is a quarterly luncheon initiative by the Midlands African Chamber, Inc. (MAC), aimed at fostering growth and providing valuable resources to underserved and minority-owned contractors. This program serves as a dynamic platform for minority contractors to connect with larger general contractors, gain access to vital industry resources, and explore potential opportunities.
Upcoming Events
November 2024
December 2024
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