Free Small Business Syposium to be Held Thursday

From the East Bay Economic Development Alliance

Christmas will be starting early for small business owners and startup companies in Southern Alameda County who attend a free event at the Crowne Plaza in Union City on November 8th.

Small business attendees will have three hours to connect with 44 business resources that can help them survive and grow: 23 non-profit or public resource organizations; 9 lenders, and 12 CPAs, attorneys, and marketing specialists. Small businesses actually can successfully connect with these experts just as over 400 growing companies have done at the previous three highly successful and well-attended events in the East Bay.  This culminating 2012 Small Business Symposium will be held from 7:30 to 11:00 am on November 8, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza in Union City.

American Dreams Radio show host Alan Olsen and Managing Partner of GROCO in Fremont, will kick off the November 8th program with experience and knowledge he gained from 25 years in public accounting.  He worked with some of the most successful venture capitalists in the world and developed innovative financial strategies for individuals and businesses. 

Olsen’s keynote presentation, entitled “Living Out Your Dreams,” is the primer for four 90 minute breakout sessions of Q&A from small businesses to support organizations and business professionals and experts in fields such as financing, business planning, marketing, human resources and legal support. 

Breakout sessions will match resources to businesses by age of the company.  The breakouts are followed by a networking session allowing opportunities to speak directly to the resources/business professionals, other companies and connect with resources that were in other Breakouts.

To register, learn more about the event and connect with additional resources, check our website www.ebsmallbusiness.com. 

Mark Green, Mayor of Union City and a long-term member of the East Bay EDA Executive Committee, will be providing the welcome and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty from District 1 will also be participating. 

The Symposiums are part of a Small Business Initiative organized by East Bay EDA, Inner City Advisors (ICA) and Wells Fargo Bank, with the support of the Alameda and Contra Costa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Alameda County Workforce Investment Board, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

This Initiative does not end with the Symposium because small businesses that sign up are incorporated into a network of support that will help them connect to the resources they need.  Follow-up support can help set up a business, marketing plans for growth, adapt to changing markets, add employees who need training/HR support, obtain real estate and/or plan for a succession that will sustain a successful company for the future.

The SBDCs and ICA, an Oakland-based non-profit that helps businesses secure needed resources, grow and create quality jobs, are collaborating to support participants with critical technical assistance and provide follow-up assistance or referrals.

Small business owners that attended earlier events are already benefitting from the exposure to a variety of entities all providing information and services to help companies grow and thrive. 

All businesses in the East Bay are invited to participate, from those just developing their business strategy to established companies – there are resources and answers for everyone.

About the East Bay EDA

The East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), located in Oakland, California, is a public-private partnership founded in 1990 to serve the San Francisco East Bay (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties).  The East Bay EDA’s mission is to establish the region as a world-recognized location to grow businesses, attract capital and create quality jobs.