Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The city and the U.S. Small Business Administration were to reintroduce a business program and kick off another today.
The new program is the SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative [e200] that provides training for executives of established businesses looking to grow. The initiative focuses on helping the business executives develop a winning, expansion strategy, including options for capital access and contracting, according to the SBA.
Also, the Youngstown SBA Initiative Program is returning this year after city officials opted to put about $1 million into the economic program that ended in 2008 primarily because of the city’s financial struggles.
The program is designed to attract and keep small businesses in the city by offering access to capital and government- contracting opportunities.
Businesses have to obtain funding for projects, with the city providing 10 percent to 15 percent of the cost.
A press conference with officials from the city, SBA and Youngstown State University is to take place at 2:45 p.m. today at YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration’s atrium, 221 N. Hazel St.