In South Mississippi, small businesses recently had an opportunity to gain valuable business support, knowledge and networking at the first Small Business Resource Conference at The Innovation Center in Biloxi.
The event was sponsored by a strong group of partners that are dedicated to developing and growing small businesses. They included: SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business, U.S. Small Business Administration, Mississippi Minority Business Enterprise Center, Coast Chamber of Commerce, South Mississippi Procurement Center, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi Small Business Development Centers, Mississippi Enterprise for Technology at John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi Development Authority, The District, WIN Job Center, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, The Institute for Compatible Learning, Community Express and The Innovation Center, the host for the event.
Held free of charge to the public, the conference welcomed 82 attendees. The resource partners offered handouts and assistance; and 12 business service providers, including banks, staffing facilities and insurance agencies, set up booths to distribute information. Seminars presented were Small Business Disaster Preparedness, SBA Loan Seminar, Community Express Loans and Government Contracting.
Stephen Whitt, executive director of The Innovation Center, said, “We received very positive feedback from the small business attendees, resource partners and booth participants; we are going to continue this event next year.”
For more information on The Innovation Center and links to the resource partners’ websites, visit www.innovatems.com.
