SBA: Announces Online Registration For National Small Business Week

Contact:
Sue Hensley (202) 205-6444
Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news/

SBA Expo ’04 Celebration, Conference Will Take Place May 19-21

WASHINGTON – Online attendee registration for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBA Expo ’04: Celebrating National Small Business Week opens today.

The annual celebration honoring the nation’s leading small business entrepreneurs will be held in Orlando, Fla., May 19-21, 2004, at the Orange County Convention Center. Highlights of SBA Expo ’04, co-sponsored by SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business,” include the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.

“This year’s Small Business Week promises to be an outstanding event,” Administrator Hector V. Barreto said. “SBA Expo ’04 will honor America’s small business owners and their contributions to our economy and our country. It will also be an opportunity for small business owners from across the country to gather together, learn from each other, compete for contracts, and participate in three full days of events that can help them grow their own businesses.”

Interested small business owners, business organizations, and other individuals may now register for SBA Expo ’04 events online at www.sba.gov/50. Exhibitor registration will be available by March 5. Complete information on Expo events is available on the SBA’s conference Web site, and will be updated regularly with new event information. Registrants who complete the process by April 17 will be rewarded with an “early bird” discount.

Special events scheduled include a business expo, a business matchmaking event, business seminars, a town hall meeting, and award ceremonies honoring women entrepreneurs and state and national small business winners. SBA Expo ’04 will also feature business industry leaders and speakers from trade associations, and state level and federal government.

For additional information about SBA Expo ‘04, visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/50.