Colorado Small Businesses
attend Conference in Boulder

Attendees had time for some networking during a break at the conference.

HUD's Nancy Royce answered questions and provided information about small business opportunities.

Zelda Chapman Bailey, Director of the Boulder Labs of the National Institute of Science and Technology, welcomed 150 attendees to the HUD-sponsored, 2nd Annual Business Economic Development Conference. Attendees came from across the state to the Department of Commerce campus nestled in the Boulder foothills for a day of presentations, panels and networking.

They came to hear Colorado Congressman Bob Beauprez's remarks and stayed for a full day of information presented by federal, state and local agencies, and private corporations. The Congressman's speech was sprinkled with anecdotes from his personal experiences as a dairy farmer and banker. He emphasized to the crowd that the mantra of small and disadvantaged businesses should be the same as for large corporations and the government, "controlled spending, controlled spending, controlled spending."

Panels covered contracting opportunities with the government, mentor-protégé relationships, and accessing business capital, and encouraged questions from the audience. Information booths in the lobby offered one-on-one time with agency and business representatives. Attendees received conference notebooks with presentation notes, speaker bios, and contact information for registrants.

Elvis Solivan, Special Assistant to HUD Region III's Regional Director, spoke on behalf of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the Colorado conference. He explained OSDBU's mission and President Bush's small business agenda, and provided "plain-talk" guidance for working with HUD.

HUD, the Small Business Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency partnered to produce this year's event. Regional Directors John Carson (HUD) and Mick Ringsak (SBA), and Regional Administrator Robbie Roberts (EPA) talked of their respective agency's programs and their shared commitment to reaching, educating and engaging increased numbers of small business owners.

For more information about Small Business opportunities with HUD in Region VIII, contact our Small Business Representative, Nancy Royce.