Billion-Dollar Business Matchmaking Program Boosts Opportunity for Small Businesses Throughout the South.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2003

Matchmaking Program partners with National Black Chamber of

Commerce's annual convention to provide big opportunities for small

businesses; Registration open through July 24th

As the national tour of the Business Matchmaking program continues, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and HP today announced open registration for the Southern region rollout of the program being held July 31st at the Sheraton, Birmingham, AL. The program is the largest national small business initiative in the history of the SBA, providing small businesses across the nation with solid networking and contract opportunities.

Business Matchmaking, originated by the SBA and now a partnership involving the SBA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and HP, will provide small businesses throughout the South the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with government agencies and large corporations -- or "buyers" -- that have near-term contract opportunities for a wide range of products and services. Small business owners and representatives can visit www.businessmatchmaking.com for a list of buyers who have registered for the Birmingham event.

"This is the only program of its kind to bring small businesses and public and private organizations together at the same table for the specific purpose of awarding procurement contracts," said SBA Administrator Hector Barreto, a former small businessman and well-known champion of small business. "This is a real program with a real mission -- to give small businesses around the U.S. a chance to generate revenue by doing business with government agencies and large corporations."

"The opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses are enormous," said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President and Counselor to the President Reta Lewis. Lewis also directs Access America, a groundbreaking U.S. Chamber initiative that focuses on developing strategic relationships and building ties to minority- and women-owned businesses. "We're continuing our nationwide tour to make sure that our businessmen and women outside of Washington, D.C. obtain access to federal and private sector opportunities."

The event will be held in cooperation with the National Black Chamber of Commerce's (NBCC) 11th annual convention. The NBCC Business Conference will feature top panelists from corporate America, rising entrepreneurial stars, university economic development experts and key decision-makers from all levels of government.

"We are extremely excited about tying this small business initiative into our convention and helping to deliver this kind of unique opportunity not only to our members but to small businesses in the area," said Harry Alford, president & CEO of the NBCC, and a member of both the National Advisory Council for the SBA and the Board of Directors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We believe this opportunity is vital in educating, training and opening up doors for minority-owned small businesses, primary objectives of our organization."

Small businesses represent nearly 98 percent of the more than 1.2 million businesses in the Southeastern Region, and employ over a million people. These businesses combined bring in more than $13.3 billion in revenue each year. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses throughout the region have a significant impact on the economy and would benefit from participating in the event.

"At HP, we never need to remind ourselves that tomorrow's next business success story is no doubt brewing in someone's garage or small office - after all, that's how we got started," said Robyn West, vice president, HP Personal Systems Group. "The Business Matchmaking program is one of the most important and real economic programs of 2003. It also represents a true public/private partnership dedicated to helping small businesses, one of the cornerstones of the economy."

A good example of Business Matchmaking's success resulted from the Midwest Region event held last month in Chicago. Marcus Mosley, owner of Champ's Doors & Windows, a Gary, Indiana-based manufacturer of quality doors, windows and fencing, attended the June event and is already working on an on-going re-modeling project with the Great Lakes Naval Station that will amount to about $200,000 in the next year, with prospects for more business in the future.

At the Birmingham event, small business representatives will meet with buying representatives from government agencies and large corporations through pre-scheduled, individual appointments. The meetings are scheduled before the event by having suppliers (small businesses) and buyers (government agencies and corporations) complete online profiles. Based on the profiles, the best possible matches will be created.

Small businesses can pre-register for the Business Matchmaking event in Birmingham by visiting www.businessmatchmaking.com. With pre-registration closing on July 24th, small businesses are encouraged to register as early as possible to secure as many one-on-one meetings as possible. For participating small businesses, the cost is $75 for each attendee. On-site registration will be available as well.

Business Matchmaking is supported by, among others, Office Depot, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and the SBA's Alabama District Office. More information about the Business Matchmaking initiative can be found at www.businessmatchmaking.com.

About the SBA

The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of direct and guaranteed business loans and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion, SBA is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. Last year, SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than 1.5 million small business owners. SBA also plays a major role in the government's disaster relief efforts by making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses. America's 24 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private workforce, generate more than half the nation's gross domestic product, and are the principal source of new jobs in the U.S. economy.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing nearly three million companies, 2,800 state and local chambers, 830 business associations and 94 American Chambers of Commerce abroad. Founded in 1912, the U.S. Chamber is headquartered across from Lafayette Square and the White House in Washington, D.C.

About HP

HP delivers vital technology for business and life. The company's solutions span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium business. For the last four quarters, HP revenue totaled $70.4 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.