FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced the Ohio Department of Development's Entrepreneurship and Small Business Division and Minority Business Enterprise Division have again joined forces with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Dayton and Columbus Urban Leagues to sponsor a series of small business seminars for minority business owners. The initiative is a broad effort to strengthen and expand business ownership among minorities and will be offered from March through November.

"We are excited to partner with the Columbus and Dayton Urban Leagues on these important seminars that support the success of small and minority businesses," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "This partnership demonstrates the many innovative ways we can work together to foster new opportunities by providing more comprehensive services that address the needs of Ohio's minority businesses."

The seminar series was developed specifically to address the needs of minority business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Representatives from Small Business Development Centers, Small Business Administration and the Urban League will give in-depth overviews of small business programs and services available to assist minority entrepreneurs and business owners. The seminars will provide information on how to pursue resources including: establishing a business; operating a business; loan programs; free counseling; and training.

All seminars will be held from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Dayton Urban League, located at 907 West 5th Street in Dayton and the Columbus Urban League, 788 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Columbus. The seminars are free of charge, but registration is required. Interested business owners can learn more about the seminar series or may register by contacting the Columbus Small Business Administration office at (614) 469-6860 ext. 282 or by visiting www.entrepreneurohio.org.

The Ohio Department of Development's Minority Business Enterprise Division works to create a business environment in Ohio that assists in the growth and development of minority-owned businesses, working closely with minority, female, and small businesses to help them obtain financing, bonding, and contracts in the public and private sector. The division provides assistance through the Minority Contractors and Business Assistance Program, Management and Technical Services and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Division manages a variety of programs and initiatives that assist small businesses in growing and finding success in Ohio. The Division also hosts the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio program, which provides consulting and training assistance to small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity, and improved management. The Centers are supported through a partnership among the Ohio Department of Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and several of Ohio's chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, and economic development agencies.

A schedule of series seminars follows:

• The Resource Network (Small Business Resources Partners)
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, March 19, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, March 20, 2008
  
  
• Understanding Your Credit
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, April 23, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, April 24, 2008
  
  
• Access to Capital (Building Better Banking Relationships)
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, May 21, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, May 22, 2008
  
  
• Starting Right & Beyond (Legal, Accounting & Insurance)
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, June 25, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, June 26, 2008
  
  
• Small Business Certification (SBA 8a, Surety Bonding)
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, July 23, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, July 24, 2008
  
  
• Small Business Procurement Opportunities
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, August 27, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, August 28, 2008
  
  
• Small Business Franchise Opportunities
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, September 24, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, September 25, 2008
  
  
• Small Business Marketing
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, October 22, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, October 23, 2008
  
  
• Small Business Match-Net
  Dayton Urban League - Wednesday, November 19, 2008
  Columbus Urban League - Thursday, November 20, 2008
  
  

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Media contacts: Melissa Ament at (614) 466-6619 or Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133