WASHINGTON, July 19, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Newly sworn-in SBA Administrator Steve Preston met with over 150 African-American business owners in New Orleans today to discuss progress of the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (UEP) initiative in the Gulf Coast.
The UEP is a partnership of the Kauffman Foundation, the Bush Administration, the National Urban League and the Business Roundtable that combines private, public and non-profit sector resources to expand entrepreneurship and jobs in historically neglected and economically underserved urban areas.
The UEP efforts in the Gulf Coast are designed to help position minority-owned businesses for opportunities related to the rebuilding of Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
During the visit, Administrator Preston addressed the group and heard personally from dozens of business owners about their needs and their experiences getting counseling and other assistance from the UEP.
"We thank Administrator Preston for making his first trip out of Washington, DC to New Orleans and the UEP," said Daryl Williams, national director of the UEP. "We're working very hard to adapt resources to the UEP so that we can help African-American entrepreneurs take full advantage of rebuilding opportunities in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf Coast."
"By coming to this initiative in the Gulf Coast, Administrator Preston is demonstrating the Bush Administration's commitment to the rebuilding of the communities devastated almost one year ago," said Kauffman Foundation president and CEO Carl Schramm. "We look forward to working with him as a valuable partner in the important initiative," said Kauffman president and CEO Carl Schramm.
"The UEP is helping to ensure that the promise of America reaches all our citizens. The rebuilding of the Gulf Coast is going to take a collective effort and I am pleased that the SBA is playing a role in this effort," said SBA Administrator Preston. "I was very pleased to hear first hand from New Orleans entrepreneurs on how we can maximize the results we seek to achieve through the UEP's work in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As President Bush has said, when you own something, your life is more secure. When you own something, you have more dignity. When you own something, you have greater independence," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. Administrator Preston also announced that a new website, www.UEP.gov, describing the background and latest developments of the initiative is being launched this month.
About the UEP Partners
National Urban League (www.nul.org) Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.
Business Roundtable (www.brt.org)) is an association of 150 CEOs of the country's largest corporations with a combined workforce of more than 10 million employees in the United States and $4 trillion in revenues. The chief executives are committed to advocating public policies that foster vigorous economic growth and a dynamic global economy. BusinessLINC(r) (http://www.businesslinc.org/) is a program of Business Roundtable aimed at stimulating economic growth in distressed cities and rural areas by fostering business-to-business partnerships. BusinessLINC(r) targets small businesses in distressed communities, especially minority- and women-owned firms. BusinessLINC(r) stands for the Learning, Investment, Networking and Collaboration that together can facilitate a full range of economic benefits for large and small businesses and the communities in which they operate.
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (http://www.kauffman.org/) With $1.8 billion in assets, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in America and the only large foundation to focus on entrepreneurship. The Kauffman Foundation strives to foster an environment nationwide in which entrepreneurs have the information and tools they need to succeed. Drawing from this extensive experience, the Foundation will help guide and monitor of the work of the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership.
The Minority Business Development Agency (http://www.mbda.gov/) is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. MBDA provides business counseling and program services to assist minority-owned companies to grow. MBDA is expanding and strengthening strategic alliances with Federal government agencies and the private sector.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/) aids, counsels, assists and protects the interests of all small businesses throughout the United States, in order to preserve free enterprise, ensure fair government contracts, and maintain and strengthen the nation's economy.