David Bertola
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown are among those expected to be in attendance at Straight Talk 2012, an annual U.S. Small Business Administration program that exposes up and coming businesspeople and current business owners to information about starting or growing their businesses.
The half-day seminar, to be held Jan. 21, addresses the changing needs of the Western New York entrepreneurial community. Participants can obtain one-on-one business counseling, visit information booths from area business resources, and network with other entrepreneurs.
Besides Poloncarz and Brown, invited guests include SBA Administrator Karen Gordon Mills and SBA Region II Regional Administrator Jorge Silva-Puras.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Historically, the “Business Basics” seminar is the most popular. Attendees are automatically registered for it, which deals with business plans; the foundation of a successful business.
Other available seminars are “Show Me the Money,” “Make Yourself Credit Worthy,” “Accessing Business Opportunities through SBA 8(a), DBE and MWBE Certification,” “Navigating Your Business Through Taxes & Permits,” “Business Assistance for Veterans,” “Marketing Your Small Business” and a discussion by current and former business owners explaining how “We Did It! You Can Too!.” Seminars are 60 minutes in length and several will be held during each time slot. Participants can select two of these additional seminars to attend.
The cost for Straight Talk is $20.00 at the door. Pre-paid registration is only $15.00. Students with valid ID pay $10.00. Veterans, with proof of Veteran status are free. The fee includes a continental breakfast, parking and the opportunity to attend the Straight Talk Series, which begins Feb. 7
Held for eight successive Tuesdays for two months from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the series gives more information about starting, running, or growing a business. These seminars are held at Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle in Buffalo York and are free with the coupon received by attending Straight Talk 2012 on Jan. 21. Otherwise, the cost is $5.00 per session.
For further information contact Pam Andolina at SBA at 716-551-4301 Ext. 301, or e-mail buffalo_do@sba.gov.
The event brochure and more information can be found at www.sba.gov/ny/buffalo.
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2012/01/19/straight-talk-2012-set-for-weekend.html