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Partial List of
Accomplishments:
Youth Employment:
(Topeka
Capital-Journal Press)
Facilitated the implementation of a summer youth employment program where
youth ages 14 - 15 are provided jobs in government departments, with
nonprofit organization and with certain for-profit companies. The TTYEP
program was created in 2000 as a stipend program and involves placing
teenagers at participating businesses and recreational facilities. For many
youths, the program provides their first chance to earn their own money. (Topeka)
Tax-equity distribution for economic development: (Topeka
Capital-Journal Press)
"The programs for disadvantaged business
enterprises may not exist today if it weren't for the visionary work of the
chamber and outspoken advocates like Lazone Grays, who pleaded for the
services five years ago.
About $535,520 of taxpayers' money has been spent
this year (2006) on programs for training and
supporting disadvantaged and minority businesses in Shawnee County,
according to a Go Topeka budget document. The $535,520 is about 10 percent
of the $5 million awarded annually by Joint Economic Development
Organization to Go Topeka from a half-cent countywide sales tax. About $14
million is collected annually from the half-cent sales tax in the county.
About $9 million goes to infrastructure.
Grays, founder of IBSA Inc., a provider of
career counseling and enterprise training and development, sued the Joint
Economic Development Organization, the City of Topeka and Shawnee County in
2002 to make sure a portion of the sales tax revenue went to minority
business people.
Brian Turner, manager of the chamber's disadvantaged business
enterprise programs, said Grays was "progressive, forward thinking and
community minded."
Sonny Scroggins, a Topeka activist and leader of Bias Busters of
Kansas, said Grays made a difference but didn't get recognition for it.
"Something beats nothing," Scroggins said of the
local programs. "And it's due to Lazone and others. I salute them. The poor
and disadvantaged should have been included all along. A lot of good is
going to come out of that. He took the lead and inspired all the rest of us
to get involved. Topeka is better as a result of that."
Source:
Topeka Capital-Journal, Dec. 22, 2006
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