For Businesses and Entrepreneurs Last update: April 12, 2012

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Upcoming Business Events

Montana Indian Business Alliance’s Business Provider Workshops

Two locations: Billings on March 20–21, 2012 or in Great Falls on April 24–25, 2012

The identical workshops will provide training and networking opportunities for Indian small business service providers.

Learn more at: http://www.mibaonline.org/events.html

Small Business and Micro-Enterprise Development: Challenges and CRA Opportunities, Cleveland, OH

April 5, 2012

For bankers, grant makers, and other funders engaged in micro-finance and small business lending to learn about credit gaps and other challenges in small business and micro-enterprise development, public and private sector financing, and recent innovative approaches.

Learn more at: http://www.fdic.gov/news/conferences/chicago_region/2012-04-05.html

3rd Annual “Invest in Success” Conference, Missoula, MT

April 23–24, 2012

The conference will provide essential business resources on financing, manufacturing, government contracting, marketing, and business management.

Reinventing Older Communities: Building Resilient Cities, Philadelphia, PA

May 9–11, 2012

This event brings innovation, revitalization, and development initiatives to the forefront for many older communities and resilient cities.

Participants have the opportunity to take a tour of the revitalization of Chester, PA or a tour of the development program in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.

Latest Business News and Publications

March 28, 2012 — The 2012 National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference, Seattle, Washington (Videos and Presentations) - NEW
February 24, 2012 — Business USA Launches One-Stop Shop
February 24, 2012 — Commerce Secretary Meets with National Advisory Council
September 19, 2011 — Lawmakers Convene Panel to Address Role of Minority-Owned Businesses in Eliminating Wealth Gap (MarketWatch)
September 14, 2011 — MBDA Awards $4.3 Million in Grants to Advance the Growth of U.S. Minority Businesses (MarketWatch)
September 12, 2011 — The Onus Is on Large Companies to Help Minority-Owned Small Businesses Get Bigger: It's in Everyone's Interest (The Huffington Post)
August 18, 2011 — SDG&E Issues $350 Million in Bonds Jointly Led by Minority-Owned Investment Bank (Sacremento Bee)
June 1, 2011 — Building Opportunities for Latino Businesses (Minority Business Development Agency)
May 31, 2011 — MBDA Announces Opportunity to Run New Federal Procurement Business Center (Minority Business Development Agency)
May 13, 2011 — The Business of America Is Small Businesses (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

Data

Demographic Data: Several socioeconomic variables from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, arranged by ethnicity to be viewed according to metropolitan statistical areas across the country.
Internet Use for Urban Areas (October 2007)

Financing Your Business

Tips for Success

Whether you are a banker or an entrepreneur offering services to banks, these topics will help you plan your strategy for successful opportunities.