WORKSHOP ON MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS SET AT UNIVERSITY

Starting and managing a minority small business will be the topic of a program slated for Sept. 23 at Southeast Missouri State University.

The workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. It is being sponsored by the President's Commission on Minority Affairs at Southeast, the Small Business Development Center and the multicultural relations committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The final portion of the seminar is titled "How to Sell Products and Services to Southeast Missouri State University" and will be led by Laura Stock, director of purchasing at Southeast.

The featured speaker during the main program will be Bill Watson, winner of this year's Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year Award given by the St. Louis District of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"Bill has been involved in minority business development for many, many years," said Buz Sutherland, director of the SBDC at Southeast.

Watson is a management consultant with the SBDC at Saint Louis University. Watson's adult life has been devoted to supporting the interests of minorities in the areas of economic development.

Watson is president of Watson Business Consulting, which provides consulting and program development for low- to moderate-income residents or agencies that focus on economic development for low-income individuals

Lunch will be provided for participants at noon in the University Center Indian Room. An afternoon session from 1-3:30 p.m. will be devoted to analyzing markets, financial analyses and business plans. Sutherland said those interested in starting their own business should consider whether their idea makes market and financial sense.

The cost of attending is $10. Seating is limited. For more information, call (573) 986-6084.