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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alan Fogg,
Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600
Fairfax County Leaders Open First-Ever Minority Tech Conference
FCEDA-planned Emerging Business Forum to aid diverse entrepreneurs and celebrate regional minority business achievement
Fairfax County, Virginia, July 11, 2001 — Fairfax County officials today launched the first-ever Emerging Business Forum, a three-day conference designed to aid African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American entrepreneurs in getting better access to business partners, sources of capital, mentors and networking opportunities. The forum, which will attract up to 300 entrepreneurs and other business people, also will highlight the achievements of culturally diverse businessmen and women in Fairfax County and the Washington, D.C., area.
The first business session of the conference opened with welcoming speeches from Katherine K. Hanley, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins, the first African-American elected to the Board of Supervisors. Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), and James W. Dyke, chairman of the Emerging Business Forum and a partner at the law firm of McGuire Woods LLP, also addressed the group.
The forum is being held July 11-13 at the Westfields Marriott Conference Center in Fairfax County. The idea for the conference began with the FCEDA two years ago. In addition to the FCEDA, dozens of companies doing business in the Washington, D.C., area and government organizations from across the region have joined the effort as sponsors.
"Getting here has meant a tremendous amount of time and effort by the FCEDA and the other sponsors, but it is happening at the right time and at the right place. Fairfax County clearly is the melting pot of the 21st century," Gordon said.
The program has four goals:
- build bridges and break barriers that minority entrepreneurs face in finding capital, business opportunities and partners;
- foster professional and personal relationships between minority entrepreneurs and those who can help them secure financing and build their businesses;
- provide capital sources and business and government procurement officials the chance to work with minority entrepreneurs;
- develop mentoring relationships between entrepreneurs and successful established business people to produce long-term business gains for both groups.Program and sponsor information is available at www.emergingbusinessforum.org.
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