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Contact: Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2009—The International Franchise Association urged President Obama to provide resources and programs to help aspiring entrepreneurs acquire the skills and experience to succeed in operating their own businesses.

“Supporting programs to help develop franchise small business ownership will help entrepreneurs achieve their dream of business ownership more quickly,” said IFA President & CEO Matthew Shay.  “Franchise businesses can play an important role in economic recovery and sustainable job growth.  Given the economic crisis we are now recovering from, policymakers need to encourage growth from every angle.”

Shay made the recommendations during the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board Workforce Development Meeting yesterday. Shay was one of a handful of leaders from the private business community, labor and philanthropy to provide perspectives on how to maximize the impact of federal investments in workforce development.   The meeting was a follow-up to the President’s Dec. 3, 2009 Job Summit.  

One area the advisory board is considering is a stepped up role for public/private partnerships in the development of effective education and training programs.  Shay observed that workforce development is one of the core attributes of the franchise business model, and franchise businesses are responsible for training hundreds of thousands of workers, managers and business owners every year. 

Shay highlighted the work of the IFA Educational Foundation in providing training and continuing education for franchise business owners and recommended a partnership to develop a fundamental training program to provide individuals seeking a career change with the skills necessary to purchase and operate a franchise business.  The creation of a Franchise Entrepreneurship Development Program, coordinated by the IFA Educational Foundation, and taught by the foundation’s Certified Franchise Executive graduates in conjunction with organizations like the National Association of Community Colleges, would help individuals consider and prepare for a career as a franchise business owner.

“Franchise businesses provide for over 20 million jobs and generate $2.3 trillion in economic output,” Shay said.  “By helping to develop new franchise business owners, an entrepreneurial training program would help create new jobs through an innovative workforce development program.”

Shay applauded the work of the advisory board in identifying ways to improve workforce development. “We look forward to continued discussions about how the franchise industry can help stimulate workforce training and help the country recover from the recession.”

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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 more than 1,100 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

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