SIOUX FALLS– The South Dakota SBIR Center and Dr. Melvin Ustad of Madison will receive the Vision 2000 Models of Excellence Award at Vision 2000: The States and Small Business Conference to be held on Dec.1-2, in Washington, D.C. Winners of these national awards were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, which is sponsoring the awards program. Vision 2000 is designed to showcase outstanding initiatives that advance small business programs and policies.

"It is a honor to present a Vision 2000 Award to so many outstanding local small business initiatives," Chief Counsel for Advocacy Jere W. Glover said. "These award-winning small business programs and leaders are the surest guarantee for small business success in the new millennium. The Office of Advocacy will give these awards in December to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of entrepreneurship in the 20th Century."

Vision 2000 Models of Excellence Awards for Programs that Support Small Technology Businesses honor policies, programs or opportunities that enhance and encourage the growth of small technology-based businesses. The South Dakota Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Center and its director, Dr. Melvin Ustad, have been state and regional leaders in fostering the development of technology-based small businesses. The South Dakota SBIR Center was started in 1989 at Dakota State University, and Dr. Ustad has been the leader of the center for its entire 10 years of operation. In fiscal year 1999, primarily because of the efforts of the center, six South Dakota small technology businesses won seven Phase I and Phase II SBIR awards totaling nearly $3 million in federal R&D funding. The center provides assistance to approximately 400 small businesses and entrepreneurs in South Dakota.

State policy-makers, state and local program directors, non-profit service providers, small business owners, and small business trade association executives will attend this years conference to honor winners in a number of categories including: Leadership in Small Business Issues; Small Business Development; Access to Capital; Government Procurement Opportunities; Regulations that Work for Small Business; Programs that Support Small Technology Businesses; Women’s Business Development; Minority Business Development; Rural Business Development; and Distinguished Programs.

Supporters of the event include the American Franchisee Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ceridian, ChamberBiz.com, Fortune Small Business Magazine, International Franchise Association, Microsoft, National Association of Women Business Owners, National Business Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Small Business United, Onvia.com, Pacific Bell, Small Business Association of Michigan, Small Business Legislative Council, Small Business Technology Coalition, SMC Business Councils and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Vision 2000: The States and Small Business Conference will be held on Dec. 1-2, in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is located at 1615 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20062. For more information about the conference and award winners visit the Vision 2000 home page at http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/vision.html. Inquiries about program content and awards may be directed to Joan Coplan at (303) 844-0503 or David Voight at (202) 205-6888.

The SBA's Office of Advocacy was created by an act of Congress in 1976 to protect, strengthen and effectively represent the nation's small businesses within the federal government. As part of this mandate, the office conducts policy studies and economic research on issues of concern to small business and publishes data on small business characteristics and contributions. For instant access to small business resources, statistics, and research, visit the Office of Advocacy's home page at http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/.

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