Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

Bigger and Better Business

Terrance Gibson

International Dir. of Bigger & Better Business

Bigger and Better Business became the first national program of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. It was first introduced at the Tenth Anniversary Conclave, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (December 1924). When Bigger and Better Business was adopted as a national program, special emphasis was placed on encouraging and promoting Negro businesses. At its inception, the program sought to encourage Negro businesses to improve their business acumen, efficiency and service to the public, to be competitive with other businesses.

Below are the Bigger and Better Business programs and initiatives for 2023 – 2025:

KEY INITIATIVES

The SBN focuses on building relationships that facilitate assisting Brothers in growing their businesses. The network assists chapters in identifying Sigma-owned businesses that offer products and services that Chapters can utilize in the execution of their day-to-day businesses.

Named in honor of Hon. Bro. James A. “Billboard” Jackson, a corporate pioneer and the first black editor of Billboard Magazine, the program invites all aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in the biennial competition. All participants compete for one of two $20,000 business development grants.

Phi Beta Sigma is committed to working with Black-owned businesses to promote self-sufficiency, growth, and development in communities of color.

The purpose of Black Spend is to be a change agent for Black-owned businesses by increasing the circulation and of the Black dollar and awareness of Black-owned franchises within our communities.

Our economic development initiative promotes financial literacy amongst our Brothers and Chapters and communities we serve by facilitating financial knowledge, understanding the impact of money, how to participate in the stock market, embracing future investment and creating generational wealth with the Black community.

In partnership with The Men’s Wearhouse nationwide, the initiative conducts workshops on dressing for success and interviewing techniques, as well as support and advance Merchandise Donation and National Suite Drive programs providing professional clothing to nonprofit organizations that conduct workforce and job readiness programs.

Phi Beta Sigma’s partnership with NAREB is to foster the expansion of inter-generational wealth creation by Black households through the promotion and retention of elevating levels of real property ownership investments sustained by NAREB’s enduring commitment to preservation and fulfillment of its credo, “Democracy in Housing”.

The purpose of VITA is to provide a learning experience to understand the tax process, promote the VITA services in our communities and maintain and build our relationship with the IRS and its resources by participation in the unified effort of assisting taxpayers to satisfy their tax responsibilities on a yearly basis.

Our partnership with the SBA provides the Brotherhood and communities we serve with the resources they need to expand upon and provide pathways and strategies for successful business ownership and operation. Chapters will facilitate/sponsor SBA-hosted webinars, workshops, and informationals on successful business ownership, access to resources, obtaining funding capital, and beginning entrepreneurship.