Economic development forums on access to business financing will be held for V.I. businesses at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at the Federal Building Conference Room in St. Thomas and at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at the Buccaneer Hotel Beach Conference in St. Croix.
The forums are being sponsored by the office of V.I. Delegate Donna M. Christian-Christensen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development, the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center, the Chambers of Commerce, local banks, the Government Development Bank and the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development.
Financial and technical assistance providers will present programs available to help new or existing businesses access financing opportunities.
Bank representatives will explain how they utilize government programs to offer business financing alternatives and meet with business owners. Financing opportunities for business expansion and/or survival in a competitive economy will also be addressed.
For further information call Rural Development at (352) 338-3482, Claire Roker in the St. Croix Congressional Office at 778-5900 or Elena Shaubah in the Washington, D.C. Congressional Office at (202) 225-1790.