blackdallas.com.

As high-tech wave floods this texas town, African Americans stand to profit from the plug-ins

IMAGINE SUBSTITUTING A LAPTOP FOR A BIBLE WHILE you're in church. Why not? You can download your daily word when you plug in during the service.

At least that's what Bishop T.D. Jakes envisions for his new facility. The senior pastor of The Potter's House, a multiracial, nondenominational spiritual powerhouse located in southern Dallas, hosts three services every Sunday (7:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.) for the church's 25,000 members. "We already have a Website (www.TDJAKES.org) and we uplink our services via satellite on a weekly basis," he explains. And there's no need for those paper programs, since upcoming events are posted on the church's Website and prayer requests are e-mailed too. "If you're going to survive, you have to help [your members] improve their personal and professional endeavors, and that also means providing the best technology."

But techno-churches are only one facet of Dallas' technological landscape. Several technology-based firms have made this Texas town their home, including Comp USA, Dallas Semiconductor, Excel Communications and Texas Instruments. In addition, a host of out-of-state, technically savvy employees are also relocating to Dallas.

It's no wonder. Dallas has a lot of wonderful things going for it. It's the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest city in Texas. The cost of living is moderate when compared to most cities, with an inflation rate in 1998 of 1.5% compared with the national average of 1.6%. Plus, there's no personal state income tax. In addition, crime is down--partially due to tough anti-gang policies and strong community involvement. In 1997, the Dallas Police Department reported 100,616 crimes, a decline of 36% from 1990 figures. Homicides dropped to 201 in 1997, the lowest number since 1974. "We've invested a lot in public safety," says Mayor Ron Kirk, pointing out that the police force now stands at 2,800 members. "We have put more police on the streets, bicycle patrols in downtown and have built more libraries and parks for our young people to [reduce] juvenile crime."

And what does Dallas have to offer African Americans? A wealth of diversity. With a population of just over 1 million, Dallas has the 10th largest African American population (29% are black) in the nation, the 11th largest Hispanic population and the 17th largest Asian population in the U.S. Key officials--the mayor, the police chief, the head of the Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Congresswoman in whose district Dallas falls--are all African American.

Clearly blacks are plugged in at all levels. But we thought you'd want to know how Dallas' techno-craze impacts employment, entrepreneurship, economics and entertainment. Surf these next few pages to find out.

MOVIN ON UP!

After living in New Jersey all of their lives, Barry and Monique Wilson decided to take their relatives' advice and make Dallas their new home. "Moving here has been a great opportunity for the both of us. I've almost doubled my salary. The cost of living is much cheaper. We've made lots of friends and have a wonderful church family," says Monique.

Although the Wilsons planted themselves in Dallas without jobs, employment opportunities quickly sprouted. One month after they arrived, Barry, 28, found a job with accounting firm Arthur Andersen as a technical coordinator. His wife, Monique, 29, landed her position the very next month. She works in payroll and human resources for Ceridian Employer Services.

"When I arrived two years ago, I did my job search the old-fashioned way. I thumbed through the phone books and newspapers," he confesses. Arthur Andersen was his first interview. The firm's internal technology services department was growing and it was a good fit for him. Nevertheless, Barry believes that anyone looking for a job in Dallas today should substitute Web-based employment connections for traditional resources. "Technology is key," he says. "Our recruiters gather their initial information from online services, such as monsterboard.com, headhunter.net or dfwjobsearch.com. Then they make phone contact with the prospective candidates."

click here for jobs

How low will Dallas' unemployment rate go? In recent years, it has been hovering around 4%, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. This is a vast improvement over 1992, when the average was nearly 9%. For job seekers, employment opportunities have been plentiful in the last few years and opportunities still abound. From 1990 to 1998, the Dallas area had a net gain of more than 340,000 new jobs, and the area is expected to lead the nation in employment growth from 1997 to 2005 with the creation of nearly 500,000 new jobs. According to the city's Chamber of Commerce, 11 industries employ almost half of the city's labor force. The key areas are accounting and business services, air transportation, automotive repair, communications, eating establishments, education, electronic/electrical equipment, engineering, health, social services and trade.

A high-tech boom also contributes to the favorable employment climate. Dubbed the Silicon Prairie, Dallas is among the largest high-technology employment centers in the country. Why? One reason is the Telecom Corridor. It's situated along State Highway 190 and U.S. 75 in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, and contains over 600 high-tech companies. The Corridor has the largest concentration of telecommunication companies in the U.S., maybe the world. By 2010, this techno-Mecca is predicted to add 40,000 jobs to the Dallas area. "We are seeing a period of unprecedented economic growth," says Mayor Kirk. "There is more excitement about our city than ever before. We are experiencing an economic renaissance."

dallas on the web

Careerdallas.com (www.careerdallas.com)

Post your resume and get advice from the site's interview help center. Also, connect with other resources to assist you in your relocation efforts.

Texas Workforce Commission (www.twc.state.tx.us)

Everything you ever wanted to know about employment opportunities in Texas, including job postings, state labor policies, tax guidelines, employment statistics and more.

Dallas-Jobs.com (www.Dallas-Jobs.com)

Download job listings, career-fair postings and a selection of high-tech employers. And don't forget to post your resume.

The Newcomer Packet (The Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, $11)

Contains the Newcomer and Relocation Journal, a Dallas street map, cost of living comparison chart and other helpful information. To order, call 214-746-6704 or e-mail [e-mail].

industries and jobs that sizzle

               Title                       Years of Training

Business       Accountants/Auditors              4-10
Management     Financial Managers                4-10
& Technology   Marketing Managers                4-10
               Personnel Managers                4-10

Health         Biotechnology Research            2
Services         Technicians
               Licensed Practical Nurses         1-2

Human          Corrections Officers              3-6 (months)
Services       Teachers                          4-10

Industrial &   Computer Programmers              2-4
Engineering    Computer Systems Analysts         2-4
Technology     Wireless Communications           1-4
                 Technicians

               Title                       Wages per hour(*)

Business       Accountants/Auditors             $10-$15
Management     Financial Managers               $15-$20
& Technology   Marketing Managers               $15-$20
               Personnel Managers               $10-$15

Health         Biotechnology Research           $10-$15
Services         Technicians
               Licensed Practical Nurses        $5-$10

Human          Corrections Officers             $10-$15
Services       Teachers                         $10-$15

Industrial &   Computer Programmers             $15-$20
Engineering    Computer Systems Analysts        $15-$20
Technology     Wireless Communications          $10-$15
                 Technicians

(*) WAGES LISTED ARE FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS.

SOURCE: GREATER DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A BUSINESS THAT HITS THE MARK!

Albert Black Jr. and his wife, Gwyneith, are the owners of On-Target Supplies & Logistics Inc. The 18-year-old firm procures, transports, warehouses and distributes products such as technology equipment, cable and wires, computer and copier paper, and switching devices. Clients include EDS, Texas Utilities, GTE, AT&T and Bank One. Last year, sales were pegged at $19.8 million. However, this year's figures are predicted to grow to $40 million as a result of a recent deal struck with the French technology company Alcatel. The contract will mean an additional $15 million annually.

Earlier this year, the 43-member board of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce elected Black, 40, to a three-year term as chairman. "I think the election sent a clear signal that the African American community is transforming itself," says Black, the father of three. "One of my goals is to create more alliances between white business owners and minorities. It's a win-win situation. We want to create wealth for both groups."

black business networks

Dallas is big on business and business is big on Dallas. Black businesses, along with mainstream firms, can stand to profit from Dallas' favorable business climate. However, it's the larger vendor contracts that will provide black firms with real staying power. Several billion-dollar public ventures are under way. Renovation and expansion work is going on at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Roads, bridges and schools are under construction, as is a new, $500 million high-tech sports center.

The American Airlines Center, slated to open in the summer of 2001, will be the home of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and the Stars hockey team.

"Since this is a public/private sector partnership, we entered into a fair-share agreement," explains Martin Burrell, vice president of minority affairs for the Center Operating Co. "A citywide vote was taken to tax us $125 million to help build the center. The city will own it and lease it to the teams. With the help of the NAACP and elected officials, we created a document that is legally binding to include minority businesses. We wanted to make sure that blacks, Asians, Hispanics and other minorities and women had a real chance to participate in the economic benefits of the center."

Since the project began in January 1998, approximately $117 million has been spent. Burrell says that 36.9%, or $43 million, has gone to minority companies. One of the companies benefiting from the fair-share agreement is Johnson & McKibben, a Dallas-based, full-service architectural firm. The eight-year-old company is currently completing the designs for an 800,000-sq.-ft., $15.5 million parking garage for the sports center.

"Each month we provide a report to the city of Dallas detailing the performance of women and minority businesses on the project. This represents a huge economic shot in the arm for these businesses. These are real dollars in the hands of these people," says Burrell.

While Dallas is a business-friendly city, there are still challenges to the real success of black businesses. One major stumbling block is access to capital. "Dallas still has tremendous unrealized potential in the business sector for African Americans, but we need the resources to take black businesses to the next level," says Peter Lewis, 43, who specializes in commercial litigation and commercial bankruptcy. He moved to the city in 1981 armed with an undergraduate degree from Princeton and a law degree from Columbia University. "I still don't see as many of the multimillion-dollar businesses owned by minorities that you'd expect to see in the year 2000, but I am encouraged. We need to break the barriers to getting more financing.

dallas is big on business

* There are approximately 140,000 businesses in the Dallas area and more than 6,000 corporations have their headquarters here.

* Nine of the nation's largest public firms and 13 of the nation's largest private firms are headquartered in the Dallas area.

* There is no corporate state income tax. Plus, companies don't have to pay state property or unitary tax.

* 130 motor freight carriers are based in Dallas. They can access 93% of the continental U.S. within two days.

* Nine international and 21 domestic airlines serve the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

financial assistance

Business Retention and Expansion Services/Development Coordination

214-670-1685

Answers your questions regarding business expansion and/or relocation so that you can tap into all of the city's programs and services that are available to you.

Southern Dallas Development Corp. (SDDC)

214-428-7332

Offers information on loan programs and financing alternatives for new and expanding businesses.

Neighborhood Renaissance Partnership Program

214-670-4897

Program offers grant funds for business improvement endeavors, infrastructure and housing rehabilitation for six neighborhoods that have been designated for revitalization.

TECHNO-SPORTS CENTER

"Dallas is sports crazy," insists Terdema Ussery, president and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. This well-connected Dallasite is at the center of a major convergence of sports and technology. With a new high-tech $500 million sports arena on the way, Ussery says 10-gallon hats are yesterday's image of the city. Today, Dallas is the tech capital of Texas and he is changing the image of his team to reflect the transformation.

"When our building opens up, it's going to be the most wired public venue in the world," Ussery proclaims. There are only 29 jobs like Ussery's in the country and he's the only African American in his position. This gives him the opportunity to have a powerful voice in the league office and throughout Dallas. "We want to redefine the way consumers experience sports. [For example], audience members will be able to communicate with each other throughout the arena. Plus, you'll be able to instantaneously call up different camera angles from your seat, then take the real-time video and send it to your home or e-mail it to a friend. The sky is the limit."

plugging into black power

It's no secret that Dallas was once considered a bastion of white conservative wealth and racism. But after a string of racially motivated incidents in the late 1980s, the mayor at the time, Annette Strauss, appointed a committee to study the underlying causes of the racial problem. Appointed to co-chair the committee was former Dallas Cowboys football player Pettis Norman. "The conclusion we all came to was that minorities were simply not participating in the economic, social and political bounties of our city," says Norman, now the owner, president and CEO of PNI, a multimillion-dollar petroleum fuel distributor and transport company with 41 employees.

"The No. 1 problem in Dallas at the time was race relations," says Norman, who was familiar with how Atlanta dealt with its problems by bringing top business owners together with that city's blacks. He tried to create a system based on the one in Atlanta. After much discussion, in 1990, he and others in the African American community developed the Dallas Together Forum. The organization was initially composed of 31 of the city's top CEOs.

"We developed a covenant spelling out the agenda for increased minority business in the city's economic structure," explains Norman. "We didn't want to talk with the vice presidents. We wanted the heads of the companies. We talked about race relations, did diversity training and impressed upon them the need for inclusion. It has really paid off. To date three-quarters of a billion dollars have gone from their companies in the form of contracts or business to minority firms."

power players

ALBERT BLACK JR.: Chairman of the Board, Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce

Co-owner of On-Target Supplies & Logistics Inc., he is sewing a three-year term on the Chamber's board.

Contact: 214-746-6600

EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON: U.S. Representative

She represents the 30th congressional district of Texas; the most populous city within her district is Dallas. Her jurisdiction covers most of Dallas, including the downtown, south and west areas. Johnson's primary residence is in Dallas.

Contact: 214-922-8885

JOHN WILEY PRICE: County Commissioner (District 3)

Dallas County is divided into four commissioner districts. The commissioner sets the tax rates, adopts a budget, approves grants and the actions of personnel and oversees the general administration of the county government. Each commissioner also supervises the maintenance of the roads and bridges in his or her district.

Contact: 214-653-6671

RON KIRK: Mayor

The city's first African American mayor, he is now in the first year of his second term.

Contact: 214-670-4054

TERRELL D. BOLTON: Police Chief

Bolton, 41, is the first African American to head the Dallas Police Department. He has been a member of the Dallas force for almost 20 years.

Contact: 214-670-4403

BISHOP T.D. JAKES: Pastor

Serves as pastor of The Potter's House, a nondenominational church that has approximately 25,000 members. He's also written several books. His most recent one is Maximize the Moment (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $19.95).

Contact: 214-331-0954

DALLAS--ON AIR!

Religion reigns in the Dallas area. Two prominent churches, The Potter's House and Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, are within close proximity. A slew of other churches of various denominations thrive throughout the area. Nationally syndicated radio personality Doug Banks spends much of his off-air time singing the praises at a place of worship. "I'm Lutheran, but l haven't found a church home here in Dallas yet. I usually attend meetings with my wife and children at Carrolton Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses," he says.

Though born in Philadelphia and reared in Detroit, Banks has made Dallas his home for nearly 10 years. He describes Dallas as a great place to raise a family. As far as the social scene is concerned, Banks believes the city offers a unique combination. "There are native Texans, and immigrants and migrants like myself; so all of us, together with the historical sites and the unique landscapes, make Dallas a proud place to be. Everyone should visit Dallas at least once."

surfing the social scene

How do African American newcomers connect with social happenings? One way is to hook up with Dallasblack.com (www.dallasblack.com), a Website that features a weekly newsletter, book clubs, organization and church directories, an alumni association page and listings of other black-oriented activities. "We felt we needed centralized information for the African Americans that are starting to move here from places like Chicago, New York and D.C.," notes co-owner and co-founder Lavida Samuel. Three years ago, she was working as a reliability engineer at Abbott Laboratories when she took a transfer from Chicago to Dallas. "Technology from a career standpoint is big in Dallas and that is why a lot of African Americans come here," she says. Sites like Dallasblack.com help newcomers add another dimension to their personal lives as well.

Social scenes and networking opportunities abound, as Dallas is one of the leading convention cities in America. The metro area has some 58,000 hotel rooms. The city also boasts more than 9,000 restaurants and more shopping centers per capita than any other city in the nation.

Plus, Dallas is quite an entertainment center. It's known for its West End Historic District, a huge, multiblock entertainment district near downtown. The turn-of-the-century storefronts and warehouses have been transformed into more than 80 shops, restaurants, galleries and nightclubs. Nearby is Deep Ellum. In the early 20th century, this district was a center of African American life and culture and was one of the nation's leading producers of blues artists and music. Today it is considered the heart of Dallas' Bohemian culture.

And speaking of culture, Dallas has a lot. The Dallas Arts District, a 60-acre development, is the largest urban arts district in the country. It is anchored by the Dallas Museum of Art and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. In addition, Dallas is the home of the African American Museum, a site that features art, sculpture and cultural events.

social sources

Dallas Morning News (50 cents)

Includes the Friday Guide, which highlights various restaurants, concerts, movies and other interests.

Dallas Weekly (free)

The city's African American newspaper, it contains black-oriented articles, advertisements and calendar listings.

Dallas Observer and the Met (free)

Highlight general interest happenings in the Dallas area.

places to see

Black Images Bookstores (www.blackimages.com; 800-272-5027)

Initially, you'll be drawn in by the aroma of the incense, but some of the store's other sidelines (greeting cards, Greek paraphernalia and candles) may also catch your attention. It has a variety of books for readers interested in mainstream fiction, nonfiction and children's titles.

The Atelier of Anthony Mark Hankins (800-789-4264)

Fashion designer Anthony Mark Hankins' atelier is located on Gaston Avenue in the historical section of Dallas. The designer's studio and boutique are housed in a red-brick mansion framed in white columns. A gazebo and garden are in the backyard. You've seen this black designer's wares in Sears stores across the country and on the Home Shopping Network.