SYRACUSE — CenterState CEO has introduced a partnership with the new Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (MEA). Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, announced MEA during the organization’s annual meeting held April 2 at Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter. Leaders in the minority community approached CenterState CEO two years ago […]
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SYRACUSE — CenterState CEO has introduced a partnership with the new Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (MEA).
Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, announced MEA during the organization’s annual meeting held April 2 at Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter.
Leaders in the minority community approached CenterState CEO two years ago to help in the effort to “enhance economic opportunity” for that segment of the population, Simpson said.
“We were eager to partner,” he added.
Economic and demographic trends indicate minorities are an “increasingly important and soon to be the majority part of our population in our communities,” Simpson said.
Demographics are changing across the country, Edward Cuello, president of MEA’s board of directors, said in addressing the gathering at the Oncenter.
Latinos account for 17 percent of the national population, while African Americans account for 13 percent and Asian make up more than five percent, according to Cuello.
But in New York state, the three groups total more than 30 percent of the population and “we’re growing,” he added.
“While our demographics are growing rapidly, economic opportunities have not kept pace,” said Cuello.
In the 16-county Central Upstate region, Cuello said, the combined populations of blacks and Latinos is more than 340,000. The region also includes more than 8,500 black and Latino-owned businesses.
The joint buying power of the black and Latino citizens of New York exceeds $170 billion, he added.
“This tremendous economic and entrepreneurial potential has not had an organization representing them until today,” said Cuello.
He then announced the creation of the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, or MEA.
MEA’s mission, Cuello said, is to “harness” the economic power of the minority community for the benefit of the region.
Its “core” services include connecting qualified candidates of color to employers looking for new talent.
MEA will also work to secure memberships for professionals of color, giving them access to new clients and customers; and to sponsor memberships for minority high-school and college students to prepare them for economic success and to recruit them to stay in the area, said Cuello.
The organization will also serve as a “clearing house” of information for minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and for professionals of diverse backgrounds, he added.
And through its partnership with CenterState CEO, MEA will also offer traditional chamber-of-commerce services and networking opportunities between the members of both organizations.
“So, whether you seek to access a pool of talented minority professionals; need favored access to a group of entrepreneurs who could become your clients; or want to tap into a larger share of the $170 billion buying power of the region’s black and Latino community, we look forward to working with you,” said Cuello.
He went on to announce that the MEA awarded the inaugural Minority-owned Business of the Year award to the CHC Group, Inc.
CHC Group provides construction-management services for its clients, according to the video that accompanied the award presentation.