(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- More than 200 people attended Commissioner Katy Sorenson’s Small Business Assistance Workshop on April 22 at the Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center. Commissioner Sorenson organized the event after her office had received an overwhelming amount of inquiries from business owners regarding how to stay afloat during the economic downturn.  
A panel of representatives from various business organizations made presentations on loans, grant opportunities, how to repair your credit, counseling, and assistance available now as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Business owners could also get information and, in most cases, apply on-line for loans. The panel included members from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center in Miami-Dade, South Florida Regional Planning Council, South Florida Workforce, SCORE Miami Dade Chapter 29, ACCIÓN USA, Florida Department of Financial Services, Miami-Dade County Department of Small Business Development, and the Economic Development Council.

 “The fact that so many people attended this workshop shows that many business owners are seeking help during these very difficult times,” said Commissioner Sorenson.   “However, I think most of the attendees were able to walk away with valuable knowledge or resources that will be of tremendous benefit for their respective businesses.”

For more information, contact Commissioner Sorenson’s district office at 305-378-6677.

(Left to Right):  Benjamin Himmelfarb, ACCIÓN USA; Sam Carlson, SCORE Miami-Dade Chapter 29; Carlos Cardenas, Small Business Development Center in Miami-Dade (SBD); Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson;  Nancy Rackear, U.S. Small Business Administration; Rick Beasley, Director of South Florida Workforce; Cheryl D. Cook,  South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC).  Members of the Panel during the Commissioner’s Small Business Assistance Workshop on April 22, 2009 at the Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center.

More than 200 business owners sought help at Commissioner Katy Sorenson’s Small Business Assistance Workshop.