U.S. Embassy Ottawa is providing funding for 19 Canadian small business development experts to travel to Grapevine, TX, near Dallas, to participate in the Small Business Network of the Americas 2nd Annual International Sister Center Workshop. The workshop is being offered by the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with the U.S. Embassies in Canada and Mexico and the U.S.-based America’s Small Business Development Center Network (ASBDC). It will feature participants from across North America as well as other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The goal of the workshop, which will take place on September 9, is to increase the connectivity of the Small Business Network of the Americas (SBNA) through the creation of direct, independently sustainable partnerships between small business service providers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. SBNA is an Obama Administration initiative to link small business service providers across the Western Hemisphere to expand access to business counseling services, financing, and opportunities for international trade.
Participants will be matched with counterparts from other countries who have a similar focus and will have the opportunity to create draft partnership plans. The workshop is an opportunity for those working at small business support centers in all three countries to network, develop ideas, work together and share best practices. The workshop will coincide with ASBDC’s 34th Annual Conference from September 9-12.
The ASBDC association is a partnership program uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is dedicated to the sound development of small business throughout America. Founded in 1979, America’s SBDC provides a vehicle for continuous improvement of the Small Business Development Center program, exchange of information among members regarding objectives, methods and results in business management and technical assistance, and advocacy of America’s small business community. More than one million businesses are assisted by America’s SBDC member programs each year.
Participants are available for interviews before and after the program upon request. A complete list of participants, including the city in which they are located can be found below. More information about the workshop can be found at www.asbdc-us.org. For an overview of SBNA, please visit YouTube.
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Jennifer Young
Media Assistant
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Tel: 613-688-5315
Email: youngjm1@state.gov
| 2014 SBNA Workshop: Dallas, Texas | ||
| Name | Organization | City/Province |
| Taylor, Anthony | Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association | Vancouver, BC |
| Gilles, Donald | Economic Development Corporation of British Columbia | Vancouver, BC |
| Douglas, Laurel | Women’s Enterprise Centre | Kelowna, BC |
| Nickel, Rodney | Business Development Bank of Canada | Whitehorse, YK |
| Wood, Rebecca | Calgary Chamber of Commerce | Calgary, AB |
| Scarlett, Tracey | Alberta Women Entrepreneurs | Edmonton, AB |
| Chugh, Pawan | Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation | Yellowknife, NWT |
| Ring, Marshall | Manitoba Technology Accelerator | Winnipeg, MB |
| Earl, Derek | World Trade Centre Winnipeg | Winnipeg, MB |
| Jain, Vikas | Enterprise Toronto | Toronto, ON |
| Kirolos, Hany | City of Barrie | Barrie, ON |
| Richmond-Denis, Erin | City of North Bay | North Bay, ON |
| Rotondo, Dolores | Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre | Vaughan, ON |
| Shaver, Teresa | Business Advisory Centre Durham | Oshawa, ON |
| Perron, Christian | Economic Development Authority | Montreal, QC |
| Carpentier, Claudine | Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce | Montreal, QC |
| Mejia, Ana | Agglomeration of Longueil Economic Development | Boucherville, QC |
| Godbout, Yanick | Development SME | Levis, QC |
| Beaton, John | Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development | Antigonish, NS |
