February 13, 2015

Seminar to focus on minority business growth

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- An upcoming seminar at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will offer information to help minority and women business owners grow their enterprises. 

“Positioning, Planning and Profiting: A Life Cycle Approach to M/WBE (Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises) Business Growth” will take place 8-11 a.m. on March 3, at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale. New and aspiring minority and women business owners are welcome to attend.  

According to the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum (MMBC Continuum), about 87 percent of the businesses owned by minorities and women in the United States are non-employer firms, with no paid employees and subject to federal income tax. 

The seminar’s purpose is to support the growth and development of these small businesses in Southern Illinois by helping business owners discover where they fit in -- from start-up to publicly traded company, and to learn how to obtain the necessary resources for growth at each stage. Participants will also learn what industries are growing, the common pitfalls that occur when starting a business, and how to understand and assess their business’s growth potential. They will also develop a plan to help their business reach the desired growth potential. 

The MMBC Continuum will conduct the seminar in partnership with the SIU Office of Economic and Regional Development, with support from the Delta Regional Authority. 

The seminar is free. However, space is limited so those interested in attending should pre-register any time prior to the event by calling 618/536-2424 or emailing sbdc@siu.edu.  

For additional information, contact Kyle Harfst, executive director of Economic Development at SIU, harfst@siu.edu, or Yolanda Dillard, director of national strategy for the MMBC Continuum at ydillard@mmbc-memphis.org or 901/525-6512.