Our History

The Internal Revenue Service subsequently issued the organization its 501 (c) (3) exemption in December of the same year.

We look to achieve Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of a beloved community where men and women, young and old, black and white come together for a mutual goal of peace, prosperity and respect for all. Two quotes and a challenge can best describe the impetus for the establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center. The quotes are “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” and “There is nothing so certain as Change.”

The Challenge came from former Worcester City Manager Jeff Mulford. “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.”

The City of Worcester’s population was and is shifting from blue collar to white collar to no collar. 52% of high school students are minorities from low-income families.

The drop out rate exceeds the statewide average of 6.9% and computer literacy within this group is at an all time low. The average age of a city high school student’s parents ranges from 32 to 35; most of these parents are underemployed and, in many cases unemployable. In 75% of the cases, this results in gangs, high crime, jail, drug addiction, teen pregnancy, and dysfunctional families.

To stop this subliminal genocide, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center was created. “There is nothing so certain as change.” Since 1994, the success of the program has forced the MLKJ-BEC to expand its services to an even broader population and add computer training, Health Industry Preparedness Program (HIPP), Pre-Apprenticeship Training, and other Department of Education Licensed Programs  to our curriculum. Although the population is “no collar” the job market is high tech.

To secure even the most menial job requires some computer awareness. However, due to a digital divide that exists in this country, two generations of people are computer illiterate. The City Challenge. Worcester’s desire to be more inclusive of all citizens challenged minorities to get involved in all areas of economic development.

“The City Fathers” felt that if the city was going to achieve its full potential, it needed the talent of all its citizens.

In a business world, if the market is diverse, your products, promotions and packaging must cater to that diversity. So, with that type of business case challenge, a small group of 12 began the journey of inclusion.

As a business incubator, the MLKJ-BEC concentrates its efforts and resources on effective community economic development. The Center provides a supportive environment with services for business owners as well as career development and employment opportunities.

The MLKJ-BEC strives to accommodate, empower, and protect aspiring micro-enterprises. Since 1998 the Center has been housed in its own 42,224 sq. ft. building, which is located in the heart of Worcester’s urban core.

This area is one of the largest low-to-moderate income, ethnically diverse sections of the city. Approximately seventy-five percent (75%) of the seventeen thousand residents in this neighborhood are classified as low-to-moderate income individuals with 28.4% living below the poverty level.

The Center is located on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares and is readily accessible by foot, car, and public transportation. Anyone who enters the Center has access to the internet, an extensive business library, job postings, resume preparation assistance, an ongoing training calendar and variety of news perspectives.

Once the individual is registered, he or she can take advantage of our Culturally–Sensitive Pre-employment Training workshops. These workshops are designed to assist low-to-moderate income people of Worcester County and neighboring cities learn how to search for a job, apply for a job, dress for an interview, and perform in an interview.

We also teach the individual how, once employed, to keep the job and grow within the corporation. Workshops are conducted by instructors whose ethnicities represent those of the ethnically diverse students. This identity factor adds credibility to the instructor as role model and has a more significant impact on the students.

The basic tools required to find and keep a job are typically not taught in public school. An acceptable work ethic is not learned at home. The workshops give these disenfranchised individuals the information they need to become productive and contributing citizens. Another venue in which un/under-employment is addressed is through Small Business Development.

In these difficult economic times, corporate layoffs and downsizing are prominent, leaving talented individuals with few or no employment opportunities. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Center offers individuals the assistance and information to become self-employed by starting their own business.

Support is given in various ways including writing business plans, seminars, workshops, assistance in obtaining financing and the opportunity to incubate their business in available office space of the Center. By helping people to provide for themselves a better quality of life, the Center can have a positive impact on the many social problems previously outlined.

This impact can cause a rising tide that lifts all boats: more taxpayers, home owners, consumers, volunteers and future leaders for unborn posterity. Major Accomplishments Include: Successfully purchased a 42,224-square foot building. Assisted in placing over 400 individuals in living wage jobs. Assisted in securing $43 million in contracts for small businesses.

Over the years we have facilitated the awards of $17 million to minority vendors and $26 million to female vendors. The Center has registered a $21 million impact on the state of Massachusetts in any given 12 month period. The Center has also developed incubation space for 46 small businesses as well as developed a Business Informational Library with SBA. In addition, we have trained over 1,200 people in different skill areas and careers.

The Center has established relationships with many organizations such as the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, colleges and universities, Worcester Interfaith Coalition, Centro Las Americas, Executive Office of Economic Development of the City of Worcester and a host of others.

In a most recent strategic planning session with some board members and the senior staff, we outlined future goals and objectives that will move the organization to self-sufficiency. As long as the need for alternative education and access to wealth is a challenge for low-to-moderate income people across the country, our plans are to perpetuate the operations of the MLKJ-BEC.