Oct. 22, 2002 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen will host the territory's second annual Women- and Minority-Owned Small Business Procurement Conference, on Dec. 3-6 at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.
The conference has two objectives, Christensen said in a release: First, it provides a forum for informing small businesses owned by minorities and women nationwide about federal contracting opportunities. Second, it gives these small businesses an opportunity to explore expansion of their operations to the Virgin Islands.
"Two businesses that attended the conference last year have since begun to explore the possibility of opening offices in the Virgin Islands," Christensen said, calling the annual conference "part of my economic development plan" for the territory.
Christensen, a member of the House Committee of Small Business, said the first conference, held on St. Thomas, "was a huge success, and we want to build on it this year." The December event will include strategy sessions on business development, financing, and federal government and international opportunities.
The conference is being coordinated by Resource Network International, described by Christensen as "a successful 8(2)/HUBZone certified minority and woman-owned small business that has vast experience in coordinating this type of event." The V.I. Women's Business Center is working with RNI in putting the even together.
For more information on the conference, visit the Resource Network Web site, or call (800) 723-5922 and ask for Ms. Castillo Ford.
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