Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) September 16, 2010
ACCION USA, a pioneer and leader in microfinance, and Citibank, a leading provider of banking and credit services to small and commercial businesses, announced today that they will join forces to organize a Small Business Boot Camp in South Florida. The forum will provide emerging and established small business owners with personalized advice on key business challenges from a team of local experts. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 22, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Signature Grand, at 6900 W St. Road 84 in Davie, FL. Registration is required and is available at http://surviveandthrivebootcamp.eventbrite.com/.
During the three-hour boot camp, participants will have the opportunity to meet with four to five local experts –or “coaches” – both one-on-one and in small groups, for 20-minute sessions. Coaches come from a variety of fields and will provide advice on business development, legal matters, sales, distribution, accounting and taxes, marketing, public relations and credit management. Between sessions, attendees can participate in small business roundtables and network with successful entrepreneurs, community leaders, and one another.
William Mateo, Florida Regional Director for ACCION USA, said: “This event provides a wonderful opportunity for business owners to share their original ideas with experts and get immediate feedback. It also allows small business owners to candidly discuss their everyday challenges with fellow business owners who may be experiencing similar issues.”
“Our partnerships with local organizations like ACCION USA allow us to have a real impact on the communities where we operate and help people better manage their financial lives,” added Jeff Pearlberg, Atlantic Division Manager for Citibank.
In 2009, ACCION USA launched its “Survive and Thrive” campaign in response to the economic downturn, with the goal of providing education to small business owners and access to small business loans of up to ,000 to weather the recession. ACCION USA now brings its successful “Small Business Boot Camp” to South Florida, where businesses have been facing a historic economic downturn. At the same time, studies show that small businesses remain the engine for local economies, generating 22 percent of local employment.
The event is also a part of Citibank’s “Our Promise” initiative, launched in 2009 to underscore the bank’s ongoing commitment to serving its customers and local communities. It underscores Citibank’s commitment to microfinance and helping small businesses nationally. Citibank offers a range of products and services to meet the needs of growing businesses and professional firms, sole proprietors and Not-for-Profit organizations and larger business and partnerships.
Barbara Romani, Citi Community Development State Director for Florida, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our work with this impactful organization, serving micro entrepreneurs and small businesses. ACCION USA, Citi Community Development and Citi Microfinance have worked closely for many years to provide outreach, educational services and microlending to entrepreneurs.”
About Citibank
Citibank is a part of Citi, the leading global financial services company, which has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
About Citi Community Development
Citi Community Development (CCD) is leading Citi’s commitment to achieve economic empowerment and growth for underserved individuals, families and communities by expanding access to financial products and services, and building sustainable business solutions and innovative partnerships. Our focus areas include: commercial and philanthropic funding; innovative financial products and services; and collaborations with institutions that expand access to financial products and services for low-income and underserved communities. For more information, please visit www.citigroup.com/community.
About ACCION USA
ACCION USA is a private, nonprofit organization that serves low- and moderate-income individuals, primarily minorities and women, who are unable to access mainstream financial services. A pioneer and recognized leader in the domestic microfinance field, ACCION USA is dedicated to providing microentrepreneurs and individuals on the economic margin with the crucial chance to access capital and develop greater financial literacy. ACCION USA is a member of the U.S. ACCION Network, the largest U.S. microlending network, with over 0 million lent since inception in 1991. ACCION USA small business loans range from 0-,000 and are offered nationwide via the ACCION USA online lending platform. For more information, visit www.accionusa.org
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