Conference to help entrepreneurs

By Mary Perez - meperez@sunherald.com

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BILOXI — The second annual Small Business Resource Conference on Nov. 13 will be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to network and learn from a variety of agencies that can help grow their companies.

“It’s all free,” said Stephen Whitt, director of The Innovation Center, where the conference will be held.

Participants will choose from a variety of seminars, see business displays and have access to the Small Business Administration, the Southern Mississippi Contract Procurement Center, the Mississippi Technology Alliance, Coast Chamber of Commerce and other agencies located at The Innovation Center and in the community.

“We’re doing twice the number of seminars we did last year,” said Whitt. Topics include legal issues for small businesses, franchising, angel capital deals, doing business with the government, loan sources, how to supervise and the do’s and don’ts of Web sites.

“An important part of this conference is networking between entrepreneurs,” said Whitt. Small business owners can share information and solutions to operating in a tight economy.

“Challenging econnomic times present opportunities that weren’t there before,” he said. The people who come to The Innovation Center for advice are pushed there by an urge to start a business, solve a problem or provide a product that doesn’t exist.

He said well over half of Fortune 500 businesses were started during very challenging times.

Whitt said for this year’s conference there’s been an overwhelming registration for vendor space by banks, training institutes, insurance companies and other companies that sell goods and services to small businesses.

The resident businesses of the Innovation Center will also display products and services, including woodworking, staffing services, printer cartridges and insurance.

“The aim is to provide an event that focuses on small businesses and entrepreneurs,” he said.