MAYOR GRAHAM RICHARD
Dear Waynedale News Readers,
I’m proud to announce that the City of Fort Wayne will host activities in conjunction with Indiana Small Business Week in June. “Focus on Fort Wayne” will be a three-day event catering to the needs of persons wishing to start or grow small businesses in our community. Small Office and Home Office (SoHo) businesses are leading the nation in job growth and Fort Wayne has been recognized for kindling this entrepreneurial spirit.
On Tuesday, June 8, I will kickoff activities in the Omni Room of the City-County Building at 9:00 a.m. with SBA District Director Gail Gisell. Local SBA representatives from SCORE will present morning and afternoon sessions of “Business Basics and Beyond” workshops that will focus on writing business plans, the legal issues of starting a business and other start up concerns.
On Wednesday, June 9, activities for financing small businesses will be featured. Morning and afternoon sessions on traditional loans, SBA and CDC packages and a mock loan committee review will give entrepreneurs exposure to expectations from lenders for start up businesses.
On Thursday, June 10, morning and afternoon activities will focus on sales, marketing, contracting, import and export opportunities for small businesses. That evening will culminate with an “Oasis @5” networking and showcase sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
I have long been a supporter of small businesses, and was an entrepreneur myself prior to my election as Mayor of Fort Wayne. I was also one of the founders of the business incubator that is now the home of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Urban Enterprise Area.
It is only natural that when big businesses make announcements that affect job retention in this community it becomes big news. I think that it is just as important that we support and highlight the efforts of small businesses to create and retain jobs as well. If you know someone who is interested in starting or growing a small business, please encourage them to attend one of these FREE sessions, or contact my office, 427-1111, for more information.
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