Although the NAACP is encouraged by the progress of the last ten years, the opportunity to make a more meaningful impact is still ahead. For example, today the Lodging industry is one of the top ten industries for new job creation and employment and it is growing at twice the rate of all other U.S. industries. Additionally, Telecommunications-industry revenue will reach $1.2 trillion by the end of 2006 and this revenue is predicted to grow to $1.6 trillion by 2010. As this growth occurs, the presence of the ERI will help ensure that these gains will be marked by parallel gains in corporate diversity, participation of minority vendors, and growth in African American-owned businesses.
To accomplish these goals, NAACP President & CEO Bruce S. Gordon highlighted key areas that will become increasingly important to future ERI evaluations. Gordon stressed the importance of supporting African American businesses, and at the 2006 NAACP National Convention, he announced that the use of minority subcontractors will be weighed more heavily in future ERI evaluations. Additionally, Gordon emphasized that in the future there will be positive and negative consequences associated with a company's ERI grade. In making these announcements, Gordon urged consumers to support businesses that are reinvesting in our community, employing a diverse work force, utilizing minority vendors and supporting our causes.
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