INTRODUCTION
The Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the Prince George's Classic, an annual cultural extravaganza culminating in a competitive football game between two Historically Black Universities. This cultural celebration of community, education, camaraderie, and sportsmanship, has a long-standing history for building strong seasonal business growth and long-term economic alliances. The Classic, as is inherent in its name, is a proven standard for joint business and community involvement in cultural and economic growth.

BACKGROUND
The Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce was founded in February of 2001. The Chamber's mission is to aggressively promote and participate in small and minority business prosperity and community enrichment in Prince George's County. Fulfillment of this mission is through innovation, determination, development and execution of strong partnerships and alliances with other business and community organizations. The Chamber's involvement in and contribution to the community and its viability within Prince George's County, the State of Maryland and ultimately within the nation is paramount. Its strength is in the diversity of its membership and its ability to represent social and economic issues that are indicative of any striving community. The Chamber seeks opportunities to raise the visibility of the local business community while creating viable economic development opportunities for its members and the community at large. The Classic is a major economic development vehicle for this initiative.

EVENTS
This cultural celebration will kick off with a variety of entertaining events. Major activities will include the much anticipated Battle of the Bands, welcome reception, golf tournament, college fair, step show, comedy show, health and wellness fair, the 50 Million Pound Challenge Walk, and will culminate in an electrifying HBCU football game and halftime show.

PUBLIC SUPPORT
The Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce has developed relationships with many state and county elected officials, businesses, and community based organizations and has garnered endorsements and support from many of them. The Chamber continues to develop partnerships and relationships with local businesses and organizations, and through strategic exposure and encouragement, has enfolded the community into the support mechanism for establishing the Classic as the event of choice in the Washington Metropolitan Region. Pride in ownership, be it a business or a community, is the primary concept that has motivated the Chamber and the community it supports to seek this venue as the next step to community growth and viability.

VENUES
The Prince George's Classic venues are some of the best in the region. The Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex will serve as the location of the official announcement press conference. This complex is one of the best sports facilities in the County. The Welcome Reception will be held at The Westin Hotel located at the National Harbor - a premier destination on the east coast featuring fine restaurants, unparalleled shopping and lavish residences. The Comcast Center at the University of Maryland, which is a world-class facility, will serve as the home for the Battle of the Bands. The seating capacity, close to 18,000, will provide plenty of room for the ever growing number of fans that attend this event. Bowie State University's Bulldog Stadium will be the home of the Classic's football game once again. Other facilities include the Cross Creek Golf Course, the Mall at Prince George's, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, and Ebenezer AME Church. Prince George's County is also easily accessible to a vibrant nightlife, cultural activities and entertainment.

SPONSORSHIP
The Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that State Farm® will serve as the title sponsor for the second year in a row. The Chamber continues to actively seek additional corporate sponsors for the expenses associated with planning, managing, implementing and executing an event of this magnitude. The Classic is very attractive to local, regional and national corporations. Located in the Washington Metropolitan Region, Prince George's County is part of the 4th largest consumer market, the 5th richest retail market, the 7th largest effective buying income and the 8th largest media market. With these impressive statistics and with an expected annual growth in attendance, Prince George's County will reach its untapped potential.

PARTICIPANTS
The Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce will continue to engage HBCUs with a long tradition of school spirit, commitment to academic excellence, strong athletic programs and active alumni associations. Participants will benefit from added revenue to their respective universities, a heightened visibility to their institutions and specifically their athletic programs, and increased revenue for scholarship commitments. These benefits will directly and indirectly facilitate recruitment efforts and expand their existing fan base. The key to the success of this initiative is the active participation of the political and business community, and most importantly, the community at large. Prince George's County is in an enviable strategic location. Being a part of the Washington Metropolitan Region, Prince George's County is in a stronghold of economic and social activity for not only itself, but the nation. This opens doors of opportunity for associates, alliances, partnerships, and future growth potentials for the community, businesses, and attendees, which is unmatched by any other location in the nation. There is only one such region, one such county and one such community.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Prince George's County has the proud distinction of being the most affluent majority African American county in the country. With over 70 percent of its 800,000 residents being African American, Prince George's is a prime location to host a Classic. The Washington Metropolitan Region is home to 1.2 million African Americans, with a significant segment having attended HBCUs. The local population in Prince George's County has a household median income of over $62,000. There are approximately 41 HBCUs in a 350-mile radius of Washington, D.C. This region boasts schools in both the MEAC and CIAA conferences. Prince George's County is centrally located on the east coast and easily accessible by air, rail and car from major metropolitan areas in the north and south.