This is National Small Business Week!  Award-winning entrepreneurs from around the country will come together to be recognized for the important role they play in our economy.  Washington, D.C., will play host to these small business owners and advocates of small business.  The entire city will be focused on the importance of small business beginning May 17-23, 2009.

For the past decade, our nation's small businesses have produced 60 percent to 80 percent of the new jobs on an annual basis.  After 9/11 in 2001, small businesses produced 100 percent of all net new jobs to help pull us out of the doldrums.  Small business owners even employ about half of all U.S. workers.  Setting aside one week a year to honor successful entrepreneurs is meaningful.  On Wednesday, May 20, the national small business person of the year will be announced!

The public is invited to attend key forums during this week.  These public forums will feature leading experts discussing issues of critical importance to small businesses and to policy makers. Listed below are Town Hall moderators and speakers and if you can't attend in person, visit SBA's online webcasting at http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com/.

Every time you visit a small business this week, congratulate them on their success and thank them for taking the risk.

WHO:    
                Town hall and forum moderators and speakers include:

                JJ Ramberg, Host of MSNBC's "Your Business" and Town Hall Moderator
                Joseph Jordan, SBA Government Contracting and Business Development
                Sara Lipscomb, SBA General Counsel
                Brian Moran, Moran Media Group
                Raghav Lal, Visa Global Business
                Stacey Wueste, HP's Imaging and Printing Group
                Nancy Gioia, Ford Hybrid Vehicle Programs
                Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of GrowBiz Media
                John Jantsch, Creator of the Duct Tape Marketing for small business

WHAT:   
                TOWN HALL AND KEY BUSINESS FORUMS on critical issues that
                impact small business and the economy to include:

                 Town Hall Meeting: Successful Business Strategies in a Down Economy

                 Financial: Strengthening Small Businesses in a Challenging Economy

                 Innovation: Technology – Our Competitive Edge

                 Social Media: Transforming the Way You Do Business 

WHERE:   
                   National Small Business Week
                   Mandarin Oriental Hotel
                   1330 Maryland Ave., SW
                   Washington, D.C.

WHEN:   
                   May 18-19, 2009

Visit http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com/ for registration details and schedule

                                                         *Forums have a nominal $5 fee each to attend.

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