SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES $100,000 FOR SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION CENTER

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced that her request to support the expansion of a small business education program at the Technology Village Business Incubator in Conway has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Shaheen secured $100,000 for the project, which will enable the business incubator to expand its Boot Camp for Small Businesses program to serve more North Country small business owners and entrepreneurs.  These funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Services Appropriations bill, which is now ready for consideration by the full Senate. 

"Small businesses are the key engine of job creation in New Hampshire, and I am pleased to support the Technology Village Business Incubator as it expands on its considerable success in promoting small business in the North Country," said Shaheen.  "This assistance will allow even more entrepreneurs and small business owners to take advantage of the Boot Camp for Small Businesses program, providing access to invaluable expertise and resources as they work to create and preserve jobs for North Country families." 

"We've had over 1,200 people attend these educational workshops since this series began in 2007, so there's a clear demand for professional training among both businesses and non-profits," said Jac Cuddy, Executive Director of the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council.  "I'm excited that, thanks to the support of Senator Shaheen and her dedicated staff, we will now be able to make these valuable programs accessible to people throughout the North Country."

Boot Camp workshops have been held at the Technology Village Business Incubator in Conway since March 2007. The workshops provide professional training to help businesses channel their most valuable resources, time and money, to get the most out of their employees and accomplish their work more efficiently and effectively.  The workshops have also been made available to local non-profit organizations, giving directors and board members the tools they need to revitalize their struggling groups.  The additional funding will allow the Technology Village Business Incubator to market the Boot Camp program to a larger portion of the North Country, to secure recognized business consultants in different areas of expertise for workshops, to update their website, and to hire the staff support needed to prepare for and execute these well-attended events.