“SMALL BUSINESS SPEAK-OUT!”
Small Business Owners Want Their Voices Heard
(BALTIMORE - October 23, 2008) - "We are all aware that these are difficult economic times for the citizens of Maryland and our country," said Karen Shannon, CEO of M-PALM. "As the economy slows, Small Business Owners are affected first as revenue and credit become less available."
Arnold Jolivet of the American Minority Contractors Association concurs. He noted, “We’re not getting our fair share of the contracts on the federal, state or local levels. Unless we do, we’re not in the ballgame.”
The difficulties of having to find alternative ways to gain contracts, provide affordable healthcare benefits for employees, and reduce business activities due to limited access to credit, all while current and potential clients reduce their spending activities are all burdening this essential part of American society, has gotten out of hand.
To this end, a cadre of small businesses including All Staffing Inc., Phyllis Wheatley Learning Centers, John Bugg of State Farm Insurance, M-PALM, Maryland-Washington Minority Contractors Association Inc. (MWMCA), Edible Arrangements of Govans, John Milton Wesley of Cordy and Comapny, and dEVNIX, Inc. are sponsoring a Small Business Speak-Out! featuring Congressman John Sarbanes and Delegate Michael Vaughn of Prince George’s County.
Confirmed invited guests include Dean of Business Raymond V. Haysbert, Coppin President Dr. Reginald Avery, Arnold Jolivet of the American Minority Contractors Association, Wayne Frazier of the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association, Lou Fields of the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, Shelonda Stokes of greiBO Media, Kevin Setzer of Edible Arrangements of Govans, and Donnie Manuel of the Baltimore Times Newspapers.
All are invited to join in to beseech lawmakers to revisit MBE programs and to establish tax breaks, tax credits, grants or a tax moratorium, as well as any other solutions so as to help ease the strain of a down-turning economy.
Date/Time: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 6 to 8 pm
Location: The Johns Hopkins at Eastern Building, 1101 E. 33rd Street, Suite E 306, Baltimore, MD 21218
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Alkire Jones at 410.298.8040 or at ajones@devnix.com.
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