May 10, 2004 – Representatives of the Small Business Administration and the Small Business Development Center want to make sure V.I businesspeople know the services available to them.
Several events are scheduled this week, National Small Business, to allow interaction between representatives of the organizations and community members.
The Best Kept Secret in the Virgin Islands, an overview of the two organizations, is scheduled May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the SBDC Sunshine Mall Office on St. Croix.
Phyllis Bryan will talk about the training, technical assistance, and counseling offered by the SBDC.
Carl Christensen will talk about the four different types of loan guarantees offered by the SBA.
Also on St. Croix, a small business open house, sponsored by the University of the Virgin Islands' SBDC and FirstBank Virgin Islands will offer business people the opportunity to speak to professionals about how to make a business grow, how to establish a business, understanding credit and how to find financial assistance. It will be held May 11 at FirstBank, Sunny Isle, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On St. Thomas, the same discussions will be held May 12 at FirstBank, Waterfront. Officials from both organizations will be there to answer questions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Also in conjunction with Small Business Week, there will be a radio and a TV appearance by SBA representatives on May 11. They will be on Radio Ones Afternoon Mix program with host, Raul Carillo, from 4 to 5 p.m. and on TV2's Talk Program, host Amos Carty, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
"Small business owners need to know what resources are available so their business can be effective in the marketplace and continue to grow. At FirstBank, we not only offer our clients an array of products and services that increase business potential but also partnerships with agencies such as the UVI-SBDC to ensure the development of that potential. Our collaboration during National Small Business Week brings this to the forefront." Says Karen Sprauve, AVP FirstBank.
UVI-SBDC State Director, Warren T. Bush, adds "It is extremely critical that all emerging and existing entrepreneurs continue to gain as much information, encouragement and reinforcement in the areas of small business development and growth. We have always appreciated the distinct opportunity to partner with FirstBank Virgin Islands in our attempts to continue supporting the growing and diverse interests of the territory's small businesspersons. We are eagerly looking forward to interacting with a large volume of visitors at this year's St. Thomas and St. Croix based Open Houses."
The SBDC will host the St. Thomas-St John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, May 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at its location in Nisky Center, Suite 720.
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