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April 29, 2010

Annual Small Business Outreach Conference scheduled May 7

Small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking information on utilizing federal and state small business assistance programs can find answers at the 2010 Small Business Outreach Conference.

The event will be held Friday, May 7, at the Monroe Convention Center and runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Onsite registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, is co-sponsoring the event along with Mayor Jamie Mayo and the City of Monroe.

Don Cravins Jr., Landrieu’s Chief of Staff for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will open the event. Officials from the Small Business Administration, Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Small Business Development Center will join him to discuss top concerns for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Committee previously held Small Business Outreach Conferences in Opelousas, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Alexandria and Thibodaux.

“We received very positive feedback from entrepreneurs throughout the state who have attended recent Small Business Outreach Conferences,” said Landrieu, in a statement from the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana of Monroe campus.

“These events have helped Louisianans learn how to get SBA-backed loans, secure federal contracts and create new jobs for Louisiana’s workers,” Landrieu continued. “I look forward to more successful outreach conferences across the State to help our local small business owners add new jobs for the state and help get our economy back on track.”

The SBA, LED, and LSBDC will provide brief overviews of their programs including:

• SBA lending programs
  
  
• SBA government contracting programs
  
  
• LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program, which provides resources and services to existing businesses
  
  
• LED Bonding Assistance Program, which assists small businesses in getting bonded
  
  
• The Hudson Initiative, which assists businesses in selling to the State
  
  
• State and federal tax incentive programs
  
  
• LSBDC small business assistance programs

SBA, LED, and the LSBDC representatives will also be on hand to answer individual questions during a breakout session. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call the LSBDC (318) 342-5506.

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