ATLANTA, GA – The Cobb Microenterprise Council of Kennesaw, Georgia 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 Small Business Development are given to services or programs (such as tax credits, home-based, micro-enterprise, workforce development) that bring enhanced assistance to small firms and may be tailored to the needs of special markets or businesses of a specific geographic area, industry, or size. The Cobb Microenterprise Council (CMC) is a partnership between the Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Cobb Family Resources, YWCA of Cobb, and United Way in Cobb and focuses on micro-business development.

The CMC program includes a micro-loan fund that provides access to capital for poor and low- to moderate-income women and minorities. The program also provides life skills management, ongoing technical assistance and support for program graduates, and one-on-one meetings with business consultants to create business plans. CMC partners provide services including business development, revolving loan fund access, business mentor matches, and a business incubator. Participants successfully graduating from the program are eligible to receive a micro-loan to fund a business start-up or expansion. Technical assistance and ongoing support of all types are offered for one year after graduation from the program.

The CMC has realized significant success in a very short time. This fact makes it stands out among many other programs with the same targeted hard-to-serve populations. More than half of its participants have either started or expanded a business, or enrolled in school and found employment.

State policy-makers, state and local program directors, non-profit service providers, small business owners, and small business trade association executives will attend this year’s conference to honor winners in a number of categories including: 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; Vision 2000.

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 Paulette Norvel-Lewis at (404) 331-3081.

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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