Contact: Ruth Semple, SBDC, 240-777-2038 or
Kristina Ellis, DED, 240-777-2024
For Immediate Release: November 2, 2001

County "Start-Right" Seminars Provide
Free Assistance to Small Businesses

The Montgomery County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will hold a free "Start-Right" seminar on Wednesday, November 7, 2001 from 9 a.m. to 12noon. The seminar will be held at the Council Office Building, located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

"Start-Right" seminars provide new and prospective entrepreneurs with important information on starting or expanding a business in Montgomery County. Participants also learn about the many services and resources available to small businesses through the SBDC, as well as through other public entities including the Rockville Regional Library's Business Information Center, Montgomery College, The Hispanic Business Institute, Chambers of Commerce and other federal, state and county programs.

"We've noticed an increase recently in attendance at our "Start-Right" seminars, from 30 or so participants up to more than 50 at each of the August seminars" said David W. Edgerley, director of the Department of Economic Development. “We anticipate even greater turnout at upcoming seminars due to the slowing economy, with data showing that people look to start their own business in times of economic downturns.”

"Start-Right" seminars are held the first and third Wednesday of each month. Seminars on the first Wednesday of the month are held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Seminars on the third Wednesday of the month are held from 6 to 9 p.m. Seminars are held at the County Council Office Building or the Executive Office Building, both located in downtown Rockville.

Two separate group sessions offering more in-depth information on specific business topics are held the first Wednesday of the month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. Locations for these sessions are announced at the morning "Start-Right" seminars.

"I learned about many valuable resources available to me through the SBDC," said Jiro Akiyama, chief financial officer of Symago, LLC of Germantown, who attended a recent "Start-Right" session. "It was wonderful to learn what a powerful resource the SBDC is for small businesses; the seminar and the SBDC staff exemplify excellence in government."

The Small Business Development Center, managed by the Maryland Small Business Development Center Network and the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (DED), is located in the Rockville Regional Library at 99 Maryland Avenue. The SBDC is dedicated to assisting the growth and success of small businesses throughout Montgomery County. The Center is an affiliate of the Maryland Small Business Development Center Network.

For more information or to register for a "Start-Right" seminar, please call 240- 777-2041 or go to www.TheIdeaLocation.com.