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Contact: Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
MINORITY AND WOMEN 2009 FRANCHISE SEMINAR SERIES ANNOUNCED
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2009—The International Franchise Association Diversity Institute announced today the 2009 schedule for the MinorityFran Franchise Opportunities Seminars for Women and Minorities designed to increase diversity in the franchising community.
“We will host a series of one-day educational events to further our commitment to help women and minorities become business owners,” said IFA Director of Education and Diversity Miriam Brewer. “IFA will partner with mayors, members of Congress and other groups to help foster understanding of how franchised businesses can boost economic development in communities across the country, and help women and minorities become business owners.”
Launched in 2007, the number of seminars for 2009 has doubled over 2008, and is a cornerstone of a new partnership between the IFA and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to showcase how franchise businesses can enhance economic development in cities across the country. At its winter meeting in January, the U.S. Conference of Mayors established a franchising taskforce headed by Trenton, N.J. Mayor Douglas Palmer. To promote the taskforce, both Mayor Palmer and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory attended the IFA annual convention last month.
Below is a list of the dates and cities for the seminars, as well as organizations and offices involved. More information about the program can be found by
clicking here . The information will be updated as details are finalized.
April 8 – Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Saginaw MI
Senator Carl Levin, Michigan District Office of the SBA, Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center- Delta College, and the Saginaw African American Minority Business Administration
April 18- Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Baltimore MD
Mayor Sheila Dixon, Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development, Congressman Elijah Cummings and the Small Business Resource Center
April 28 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Trenton NJ
Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Trenton Department of Housing and Economic Development, US Small Business Administration and the NJ Small Business Development Center
May 13 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Buffalo NY
Mayor Byron Brown and the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation
May 29- Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Kansas City MO
Urban League of Greater Kansas, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas City Library System
May 30 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – St. Louis MO
Congressman Lacy Clay, St. Louis Development Corporation and the St. Louis Minority Business Enterprise Center/Minority Business Development Agency
June 23 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Canton OH
Mayor William Healy and the Department of Economic Development and Planning
June 24- Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Cleveland OH
Cleveland Small Business Development Center/Cleveland Urban League, Mayor Frank Jackson and Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge
October 2009 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Cincinnati OH
Mayor Mark Mallory, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and US Bank
October 15 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Indianapolis IN
Mayor Gregory A. Ballard and the Office of Minority and Women Business Development
October 21 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – East St. Louis IL
Mayor Alvin Parks and the East St. Louis Economic Development Office
November 4 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Coral Springs FL
Mayor Scott Brook and the Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation
November 5 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Fort Pierce FL
Mayor Robert J. Benton, III and the Office of the City Manager
November 6 - Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Jacksonville FL
Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Jacksonville Entrepreneur Center/Jacksonville Urban League, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Beaver Street Enterprise Center and the Florida Small Business Development Center
November 21 – Franchise Opportunities Seminar – Dallas TX
City of Dallas, Minority Business Development Agency, the National Black MBA Association, Dallas Office of the Small Business Administration, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the US China Chamber of Commerce
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About The International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of nearly 1,300 franchise systems, 10,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information, visit the IFA Web site at www.franchise.org.
About the IFA Diversity Institute
The IFA Diversity Institute promotes and fosters diversity and inclusion within the franchising community. The institute provides information to assist IFA members in expanding their diversity recruitment and multi-cultural marketing efforst at all levels - franchisees, employees, suppliers, and consumers. MinorityFran is open to all IFA member companies that are committed to expanding opportunities for minorities in franchising.
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