NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Urban Entrepreneur Partnership Gulf Coast (UEPGC) opened the first of three permanent offices in the Gulf Coast Region today. The new New Orleans office is at 917 Terpsichore Street, and two more offices will open soon in Baton Rouge and in Mississippi.
The UEPGC program provides a comprehensive approach to help business owners play a vital role in the economic renewal of the Gulf Coast region. That role was also proclaimed today at the opening with the release of proceedings from a recent conference in New Orleans titled "Entrepreneurship: The Foundation for Economic Renewal in the Gulf Coast Region."
"Small businesses will be central to rebuilding the communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The UEPGC will help more businesses find the technical assistance, financial investment and corporate relationships they need to grow, develop and create more jobs in the Gulf Coast region," said Daryl Williams, national program director, UEPGC.
Chairman Donald Powell, Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, said, "President Bush is pleased to support this innovative public-private partnership that will help ensure that all citizens can participate in the economic recovery of the region. I applaud the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership Gulf Coast for working to implement the President's Jackson Square vision for a better and stronger Gulf Coast."
Through the UEPGC program, entrepreneurs and business owners will receive business training, coaching and access to financing and procurement opportunities. The training and coaching services help each business owner identify the skills and resources needed to make his or her business most successful. In addition, through a resource navigator service, the program will coordinate services among existing organizations that offer other business support services.
The program focuses on the needs of businesses in the Gulf Coast region that were affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The ultimate goal of UEP Gulf Coast is to assist businesses in the participation of the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast.
As part of the opening announcement, Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the SBA Office of Advocacy, also presented key highlights from the April conference. The conference focused on strategies for policymakers to use to make sure that small business stays at the forefront of economic development as they implement recovery efforts. "This conference brought together the best entrepreneurial thinkers and doers from across the region and the United States representing more than 100 organizations," said Dr. Moutray, "and they were united on one major point: entrepreneurs will play a key role in rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region."
The conference was co-sponsored by the Office of Advocacy, the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership Gulf Coast, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Public Forum Institute. The proceedings can be accessed at: http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/proceedings06.06pdf.
The UEPGC is affiliated with the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, a national program that combines private, public and nonprofit sector resources to foster entrepreneurship, business development and job creation in historically neglected and economically underserved areas nationwide. Announced by President Bush in July 2004, the UEP founding partners include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, National Urban League, Business Roundtable, and Federal agencies. For more information about the UEP program, visit: http://www.uep.gov, and http://www.kauffman.org/entrepreneurship.cfm?topic=women_minority&itemID=591 or call 816-932-1022. For information about the UEP Gulf Coast Program, call 816-932-1146.
The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call 202-205-6533.