Local entrepreneurs in West Palm Beach have a unique opportunity to celebrate National Black Business Month with Mayor Keith A. James at Palm Beach Atlantic University's Weyenberg Center. The 2024 Small Business Town Hall, set for Thursday, will open its doors to small business owners eager to learn about new contracting opportunities and resources aimed at fostering growth. "This event is a testament to our commitment to supporting and empowering our small business community in West Palm Beach," Mayor Keith James was quoted in a City of West Palm Beach press release.
Allen Thomas, SBA Southeast Regional Administrator, will also share the stage. Highlighting the importance of the occasion, Thomas said, "Small businesses are the engines of the nation’s economy, and that engine is running strong." A plethora of topics are on the itinerary, including access to capital, growth opportunities through SBA's 8(a) program, and the current state of small business in the area. The event will feature an interactive fireside chat and a Q&A session, where current challenges, legislative updates, and emerging business trends will be front and center.
Moreover, the Town Hall is not just for thoughtful discourse, it's a practical convergence for networking, partnership building, and strategic planning. With the first, second, and third strongest years of new business application rates on record starting from 2021, as Thomas put forward, the event represents a ripe moment for local businesses to leverage growth in concurrence with the burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit nationwide.
Participants can attend this entrendpreneurial symposium free of charge. However, aspiring attendees should mark their calendars to register by August 19, to secure a spot as space is limited. For those interested, the registration details can be found at blackbusinessloop.com or through direct contact with Mary Rhaburn at [email protected]. Media members are also invited and can RSVP by reaching out to Mary Rhaburn for coordination of potential interviews.
