SBA Unveils New ‘National Small Business Week’ Web Site

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration this week launched a new Web site, http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com, for National Small Business Week 2008, featuring information about the agency’s premier annual event.  The celebration of National Small Business Week is April 21-25, with events in Washington, D.C., April 21-23 and in New York City April 24-25.

Among the featured speakers confirmed are Secretary Mike Leavitt, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative; Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker; David Latimore of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City; John Bryant of Operation HOPE, and other prominent business leaders, CEOs and politicos.

Visitors to the site will find it richer, deeper, and easier to navigate, with a look and feel that conveys the spirit of excitement surrounding this year’s Small Business Week events. 

Up-to-the-minute highlights, multimedia content and information will be updated to the Web site during Small Business Week events in real-time.  An added interactive feature will allow visitors to http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com to upload photos of the events directly to the site.

Created with the user in mind, one of the newest features of the new Web site is an interactive blog that will allow sponsors, award winners, and the public to post content about Small Business Week events.

The new Web site provides detailed information about the National Small Business Week schedule, including day-to-day-events, featured sessions, events locations, award winners’ biographies and detailed sponsor information.  In addition, information for Small Business Week award winners will be accessible on member-only sections of the Web site.

“National Small Business Week.com is a leap forward for the SBA, and represents a new platform for how the agency can engage in a dialogue with small businesses online,” said Anoop Prakash, SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development.

A full updated schedule of events appears below, and online at http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com/Schedule/.

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After Small Business Week 2008 events have ended, the Web site will continue to serve as a nucleus for dialogue and communication, with archived events from 2008 accessible at the click of a mouse button.  Small business community members can receive updates on future SBA events, including a post-event discussion of National Small Business Week 2008 activities.

The small business community is invited to join the SBA for a week of valuable executive panel forums that will feature an exceptional lineup of notable speakers, expert panelists, and business industry leaders discussing best business practices and the latest developments in the business world.  The small business community nationwide can also take part in the forums, and view other Small Business Week events that will be webcast live.

Online registration for National Small Business Week is now open.  To hold your place, visit online to the new site at http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com.  Media outlets are encouraged to cover National Small Business Week events, and can also register online.