Missouri's
entrepreneurial community is thriving.
And there is no better evidence of that than the 25 firms that were
featured in the first Client Showcase sponsored by the Missouri
Small Business Development Centers (MO SBDC), the Missouri
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) and the Missouri
Federal and State Technology Partnership (MoFAST), which was held
on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Missouri State Capitol.
That morning, business owners representing all regions of the state
and all business sectors were on hand to visit with legislators and
state officials regarding their success — and their contribution
to the economic development of their communities and the state. All
of the businesses featured are clients of one of the above-named programs,
which are housed within University of Missouri Extension and its partner
institutions of higher learning across Missouri.
 |
| Successful entrepreneurs, legislators and the
staff of the University of Missouri’s business development
programs enjoyed the Business Showcase and Legislative Breakfast
Feb. 10, 2005, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.
[more photos] |
The goal of the showcase was to demonstrate the important contribution
entrepreneurial firms make to the creation of businesses, jobs, wealth
and enhanced quality of living in their communities.
"Companies such as those participating in our showcase create more
than 90 percent of the jobs in our nation," says Mary Paulsell, assistant
state director of the MO SBDC and director of communications for the
sponsoring agencies. "We offered legislators the opportunity to meet
with these entrepreneurs, hear their stories and come to understand
the need for the kind of technical assistance and education our programs
provide.
"The diversity among the companies in both scope and mission is amazing.
And we deal with more than 5,000 companies like these each year. The
contribution they make to our state is very significant."
Photos from the Client Showcase are available at the Showcase
Photo Gallery.
Visit the