Small-businesses owners get a helping hand in Anne Arundel

Annapolis (Map, News) - The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Small Business Resource Center and the Microsoft Corporation are looking to give small businesses a boost through 25 free workshops.

“We are here to help small businesses succeed and are always interested in finding the types of programs to help our business community grow,” said Alexis Henderson, a spokeswoman for the resource center.

“Microsoft is doing the webcast, and we are hosting a roundtable after each session with our counselors and providing networking opportunities for businesses in attendance. The counselors are there to also provide further assistance with financing needs, business plans, staffing help or one-on-one services,” she said.

Ninety-eight percent of Anne Arundel county businesses are small businesses, a statistic not lost on the county.

The event is one of the largest U.S. events for small businesses, with more than 30,000 businesses expected to participate. Attendees will hear from industry luminaries, including noted author and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki; Baby Einstein Co. LLC founder Julie Clark; and Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa U.S.A.

“We’ve listened to our small-business community, and based on feedback we’ve expanded the number of webcasts and in-person events this year, including adding a full day devoted to startups,” said Cindy Bates, general manager of the U.S. Small Business Group at Microsoft.

Topics include branding, sales and marketing, security, business efficiency and mobility, and participants have the flexibility to join online from their home or office. Small-business owners can watch the webcast at the AAED offices in Annapolis beginning at noon until 5:00 p.m. for the remainder of the week.

“With more than 20 million small businesses in the U.S., they continue to be a critical element in fueling our economy. We believe technology can play a fundamental role in helping small businesses succeed,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft in a released statement.

More information

» To register at the AAED, call 410-222-7410.

» For a complete list of the webcasts, go to www.aaedc.org/special_events.html or www.microsoft.com.

rchappelle@baltimoreexaminer.com

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