COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Technology Alliance of Columbia, South Carolina 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. To achieve this very objective, the governor of South Carolina assembled the South Carolina Technology Alliance (SCTA) in 1997. Its goal was to create a technology strategic plan for the state, prepare a technology-capable work force, create a business environment friendly to high-tech businesses, invest to expand the base of rapidly growing businesses and start-ups, and invest in world-class university research programs that are linked to South Carolina industries.

The public-private, non-profit SCTA has been a leading advocate, together with the South Carolina School Board Association, for the adoption of a new technology policy for schools across South Carolina. The organization is targeting improved or added technology equipment in the schools, the use of such equipment to improve skills and the curriculum, and the "teach the teacher" program used to train instructors in the use of the new high-tech equipment.

The SCTA has also been working with the state colleges to obtain grants and develop programs to match advanced students with businesses in the high-tech community. It has worked with the state legislature and governor’s office to support legislation regarding technology issues and is working with

the University of South Carolina-Spartansburg and Furman University to develop the first technology park in the northern part of the state.

The SCTA has worked with more than 38 high-tech startup businesses across the state to locate venture and seed capital. In 1998, SCTA was selected to manage the ACE-Net program for South Carolina to encourage investment in high-tech companies by private investors. It has also taken a lead role with the state research universities to encourage technology transfer and it took a leadership role in the development of a new information technology school located at the University of South Carolina.

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: 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 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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