PRESS RELEASE

NOVEMBER 22, 2000

ACDC LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE PEER-SUPPORT GROUP FOR SMALL ASIAN FIRMS IN THE BUILDING TRADES

ASIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ( ACDC), RECOGNIZING THE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, IS LAUNCHING A PEER-SUPPORT GROUP FOR SMALL ASIAN BUSINESSES IN THE BUILDING TRADES. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON HELPING THE ASIAN CONTRACTORS GROW AND GAIN ACCESS TO CONTRACTING AND SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA.

IN NOVEMBER, ACDC RECEIVED A $25,000 GRANT FROM THE MABEL A. HORNE TRUST, ADMINISTERED BY FLEET'S CHARITABLE TRUST SERVICES GROUP, IN SUPPORT OF ITS OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE CONTRACTORS.

"WE'RE DELIGHTED TO SUPPORT THIS PROMISING INITIATIVE. IT'S TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE MABEL A. HORNE TRUST, AND RELATED TRUSTS IN THE FLEET CHARITABLE TRUST SERVICES GROUP TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MODELS" SAID KELLEY MCLENDON, DIRECTOR OF FLEET CHARITABLE TRUST SERVICES.

MR. GEORGE CHIN OF CROSSWINDS ENTERPRISES, INC., A 15-YEAR OLD ROXBURY-BASED MINORITY-OWNED GENERAL CONTRACTING FIRM WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE MAINSTREAM ECONOMY, WILL SERVE AS A MENTOR TO THE YOUNGER BUSINESS OWNERS. HE WILL ALSO HELP TRAIN THEM IN THE USE OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE DEVELOPED ESPECIALLY FOR THE INDUSTRY. "IN ORDER FOR SMALL ASIAN CONTRACTORS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE OUR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. COMPUTER TRAINING IS BUT ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR GROWTH. WE PLAN TO RELATE THE TRAINING TO THE CONTRACTORS' DAILY NEEDS SO THEY CAN USE THE TRAINING IMMEDIATELY. WE TRUST THIS IS JUST THE START OF A MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM," SAID MR. CHIN.

ACDC'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF YOUNG ASIAN FIRMS IN THE BUILDING TRADES, AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE. A MENTORED PEER GROUP, PARTIALLY CONDUCTED IN CHINESE, WOULD HELP BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE ISOLATION AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS THE ENTREPRENEURS FACE.

"HAVING AN EXPERIENCED CONTRACTOR LIKE GEORGE AS A MENTOR CAN BE INVALUABLE TO SOME OF THE YOUNGER ENTREPRENEURS TRYING TO NOT JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TODAY'S BUILDING BOOM, BUT ALSO LOOKING TO BUILD HIS OR HER COMPANY FOR THE LONG HAUL," SAID DOUGLAS LING, ACDC'S DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGER OF THE PROJECT.

THE FIRST FOCUS GROUP MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

DOUGLAS LING OR MARIAN L. XAVIER
ASIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
888 WASHINGTON STREET
BOSTON, MA 02111
TEL: (617) 482-2380 (EXT. 203 OR 201) FAX: (617) 482-3056

THE ASIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO HIGH STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND INTEGRITY IN SERVING THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF GREATER BOSTON, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING AND REVITALIZING BOSTON'S CHINATOWN. THE CORPORATION DEVELOPS PHYSICAL COMMUNITY ASSETS, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP; PROMOTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; FOSTERS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT; BUILDS CAPACITY WITH THE COMMUNITY; AND ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

CROSSWINDS ENTERPRISE, INC. IS A COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN CONSTRUCTING AND REHABILITATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN BOSTON, AND HAS TAKEN ON SOME COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AS WELL. CROSSWINDS ENTERPRISE, INC. ALSO OPERATES A.G.E. SUPPLY, INC., A BUILDING SUPPLY STORE, AND WINDALE DEVELOPERS, INC., A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

A RECENT GRANT TO FUND THIS PROJECT WAS AWARDED TO ACDC FROM THE MABEL A. HORNE TRUST, FOR WHICH FLEET NATIONAL BANK SERVES AS TRUSTEE. THE HORNE TRUST IS ADMINISTERED BY FLEET CHARITABLE TRUST SERVICES, WHICH MANAGES NEARLY $1 BILLION IN TRUSTS ESTABLISHED BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THE HORNE TRUST IS ONE OF A GROUP OF TRUSTS THAT FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF INNER-CITY BOSTON, AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE SUPPORT OF FAMILIES ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

888 Washington Street, Suite 102 | Boston, MA 02111-1426 | 617-482-2380 t | 617-482-3056 f | info@asiancdc.org