 His time serving on the SBA's advisory board and his direct work with the agency would lead Grave to his belief in the need for advice to businesses in economic development and urban affairs, which convinced him to create an annual newsletter that would chronicle issues relevant to black business people, and raise awareness of the importance of black consumer power.At the suggestion of then SBA Director Howard J. Samuels, Graves would expand the concept of a newsletter into a full-fledged magazine.Graves started Earl G. Graves, Ltd, and under that holding company he began the Earl G. Graves Associates management consulting firm.