[Durham INC] Register Now for Durham MED Week Oct. 7-11

Tue Sep 10 11:03:50 EDT 2013

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CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701

News Release

News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov>
http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC

For Immediate Release: September 10, 2013

Durham Celebrates Minority Enterprise Development Week October 7-11
Online Registration Now Available at www.DurhamChamber.org<http://www.DurhamChamber.org>; September 27 Registration Deadline

DURHAM, N.C. - Small business owners will get their chance next month to learn how to survive and thrive during the 2013 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week.

The City of Durham, in partnership with multiple community, state and federal agencies, will observe MED Week from October 7-11, 2013. MED Week celebrates the achievements of minority entrepreneurs and affirms government, business, and community organizations' commitment to the principle of equal opportunity.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. This annual observance is an opportunity for all residents and businesses to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of small businesses to the quality of life we enjoy in Durham and support and promote their growth," said Deborah Giles, director of the City's Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department. "Through our department, the City has a proven record of supporting small, disadvantaged business enterprises through various strategies including certification, contract monitoring, and technical assistance."

Special events for this year's celebration include an awards luncheon; a seminar focusing on new private projects coming to Durham; a multicultural business after-hours reception; MED Week Golf Day; and a Greet the Purchasers event. This year's theme is "Small Businesses: Surviving and Thriving in Our City and State."

This year's awards luncheon will feature guest speaker Representative Larry Hall, democratic leader of the N.C. House of Representatives. Hall will give an insider's view of the state of small businesses in North Carolina; what legislation has passed to assist small businesses; what role the legislature might play in the growth and development of small businesses; and what steps might be taken to advocate for greater support of small businesses.

2013 Minority Economic Development Week Schedule of Events

*         Meet the Developers of Private Projects in Durham Seminar: Monday, October 7 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Hilton Durham near Duke University, 3800 Hillsborough Rd. This is a free seminar, but pre-registration is required and refreshments are included.

*         MED Week Awards Luncheon: Tuesday, October 8 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Radisson Hotel RTP, 150 Park Dr. The cost to attend is $30 per person.

*         Greet the Purchasers: Wednesday, October 9 from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Durham Convention Center, 201 Foster St. The cost to attend is $20 per person for Chamber members and $30 per person for Non-Chamber members.

*         Multicultural Business After-Hours: Wednesday, October 9 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Piazza Italia Ristorante, 905 W. Main St. This cost to attend is $10 per person and pre-registration is required; refreshments and door prizes are included.

*         Construction Connect: Thursday, October 10 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Durham Convention Center, 201 Foster St. This is a free speed-networking event, but pre-registration is required and refreshments are included.

*         MED Week Golf Day: Friday, October 11 beginning at 9:30 a.m., Falls Village Golf Club, 115 Falls Village Dr. Golfer's Cost is $45 per person and includes food, green fee and cart; non-golfers clinic cost is $20 per person.

The deadline to register to attend any of these events is Friday, September 27. Participants should register online at http://www.DurhamChamber.org. MED Week is listed under "Connect" then "Calendar of Events."

Durham's local observance is a collaborative effort between the City of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Skanska USA Building, Inc., Durham County Government, the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development, Duke University, Duke Medicine, Balfour Beatty Construction, Lend Lease, Minority Business Development Agency Business Center with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce.

For information about the 2013 MED Week observance, contact Giles at (919) 560-4180, ext. 17243 or by email at Deborah.Giles at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Deborah.Giles at DurhamNC.gov>, or Mable Rogers at (919) 328-8731 or by email at mrogers at durhamchaamber.org<mailto:mrogers at durhamchaamber.org>.

About the Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department
The City of Durham's Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department is responsible for the implementation of the City's Equal Business Opportunity Program. Responsibilities include implementation of race and gender neutral measures to facilitate the participation of Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SDBE) in City contracting activity, recruitment, certification, and maintenance of SDBE data bank, business development, City project compliance, monitoring, and reporting. Guided by the City's Strategic Plan, the department ensures that its services support making Durham a great place to live, work, and play by focusing on a strong and diverse economy, assuring that City efforts are well managed, and supporting the stewardship of the City's physical assets. To learn more, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/as/eoea/Pages/Home.aspx.

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