Minority entrepreneurs assisted

A coalition of business and advocacy groups this month will offer a day-long series of workshops for minority entrepreneurs.

The University of Nevada's Small Business Development Center is joining forces with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Weed and Seed, Community Services Agency, and SCORE business counselors to offer the free event, "Entrepreneurship for Minorities." The workshops will be May 22 on the University of Nevada campus in the Ansari Business Building.

Attendees can attend break-out sessions designed for existing business owners and people wanting to start a business.

Topics range from workplace safety to recordkeeping and the reasons that businesses fail.

Sessions will be led by local business leaders and NSBDC trainers from across the state.

The NSBDC first came up with the idea for the "Entrepreneurship for Minorities" workshops as a way to reach out to small business owners who might not otherwise seek help in running their businesses.

"Through our counseling, training and specialized programs we help over 10,000 people each year succeed with their business," said Kathy Carrico, the business development center's state training director.

"However, it seems that our portion of minority businesses should be larger based on population stats.

We want to make sure that the minority business owners also become aware of and receive our services."

"It's important that our minority communities increase and gain more knowledge so they may become self-empowered," said Tiffany Young, director of Weed and Seed.

"It's amazing how many incredible business opportunities are available to them, yet not accessed.

We're hoping people take advantage of this great learning opportunity if they own a small business or want to find out how to start one."

Although the primary audience for workshops is minority communities, the workshops are open to anyone.

Pre-registration is required through the Nevada Small Business Development Center, 784-1717.