Mountain BizWorks is proud to be sponsoring this year’s MEDWeek program recognizing and celebrating the achievements of minority business in WNC. The press release follows:
The Minority Enterprise Development Committee of Western North Carolina is pleased to announce the schedule of activities for MEDWeek 2016, from Monday, September 26 to Friday, September 30th.
This annual week of events, begun in 1982 under President Reagan as a national initiative, recognizes “the achievements of minority businesses” and honors “those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development.” The week of events in Western North Carolina, started in 1983, always consists of workshops/panels for local small businesses and culminates in a dinner and ceremony, where there are awards announced in such categories as Best Emerging and Best Existing Minority Business of the Year. This year’s offerings include some special events aimed at helping some individual minority-owned businesses to gain targeted help.
This year’s workshops are the following (all free and open to the public):
On Tuesday, September 27th from 1pm to 2:30pm at the A-B Tech Small Business Center, South Room 120, join us to learn about “SBA Programs and Services for Your Business” at 303 Airport Road in Arden. Find out what SBA-sponsored and -funded resources are available to counsel and train small business owners in all areas of management including business planning. These services are available for both existing and start-up businesses. Discover the SBA’s government contracting, minority and other certification programs which can enable your small business to obtain federal government contract work. Register at www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=20360062.
Wednesday, September 28th from 10am to Noon at A-B Tech’s Small Business Center, Room 2046,1465 Sand Hill Road in Enka will be an interactive seminar, “How to Develop and Screen Your Business Idea,” for those taking initial steps in starting a business. You will leave with a better understanding of how to assess the overall potential of any business idea prior to writing a lengthy business plan. This seminar has a limited number of seats available, so be sure to register early at www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=20360063.
To round out a full week, on Friday, September 30th from Noon to 1:30pm, at A-B Tech Small Business Center, Enka Campus, Room 2046 a new seminar, “What Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Their Personal Credit”, will open the door to the credit you need to start and operate your business with successful cash flow. To register: www.nsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=20360083.
Minority Business Expo: A special event of MEDWeek 2016 is a Minority Business Expo, to be held at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium on Thursday, September 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. All of this year’s award nominees will receive a free booth at this expo. The cost to all others is $25. To sign up for a booth, contact Sandra Dennison at the Small Business Technology Development Center, at sdennison@sbtdc.edu.
MEDWeek Awards Reception: Capping off MEDWeek 2016 is the awards reception to be held following the Minority Business Expo at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium on Thursday, September 29th from 5-7. Catering will be supplied by a minority-owned business, Pop’s Eggs and Grits from Maggie Valley. Join us to recognize and celebrate the growth of minority-owned business in WNC on this special day. Following the awards event, there will also be a special reception, after hours, at the Block off Biltmore, 39 S. Market Street, Asheville. Join the MEDWeek Committee in toasting our winners!
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors! Presenting Sponsors: Mission Health and The Western Women’s Business Center of The Support Center. Gold Sponsors: Sequoyah Fund, TD Bank, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, and AB Tech Community College. Silver Sponsor: City of Asheville Community and Economic Development. Bronze Sponsors: Self-Help Credit Union and Mountain BizWorks.
Contact: Jane Hatley, Self-Help Credit Union, 34 Wall Street, Asheville, 28801. 828-676-2196, ext. 3473 or jane.hatley@self-help.org.