DISASTER RECOVERY ASSISTANCE SEMINAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

BROOKLYN, NY, October 11, 2002-Small business owners in the five boroughs of New York City whose business suffered economic or physical damage due to the World Trade Center disaster are invited to attend a two-hour seminar, "Disaster Recovery Assistance Forum for Small Businesses-One Year Later."

The seminar will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, October 22, 2002, at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business Library, 280 Cadman Plaza West at Tillary Street. The Business Library is located in Brooklyn Heights and is accessible by taking the 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Borough Hall or the J or M trains to Court Street.

To RSVP for the seminar, which is sponsored by Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), the Business Library, and the Small Business Development Center at Boricua College, please call 718-963-4112, ext. 563.

"One year after the attacks on the World Trade Center, we are finding that small businesses are still suffering and continue to need assistance," said Joan Bartolomeo, president of BEDC. "At BEDC, for example, our lending division recently began offering emergency loans to businesses that have not received loans from other sources. Businesses eligible must employ fewer than 10 people and be located below 14th Street, or have had at least 50 percent of their business activity from clients located below 14th Street as of September 11, 2001."

The seminar will discuss how some disaster resource deadlines have been extended and various wage subsidy programs. The forum will include a question and answer session.

The following organizations offering assistance to businesses will be represented: BEDC; ACCIÓN New York; SEEDCO; South Brooklyn Business Outreach Center; Boricua College, SBDC; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Consortium for Worker Education; NY Industrial Retention Network; U.S. Small Business Administration; Internal Revenue Service; City of New York Economic Development Corporation; State of New York Empire State Development Corporation, and others.

BEDC, a private, nonprofit organization, was established in 1979 to stimulate Brooklyn’s economy and create job opportunities for the borough and its residents. BEDC has evolved into a multi-service, business-consulting agency, serving more than 1,000 clients annually and offering comprehensive economic development services. More information is available at www.bedc.org.

Brooklyn Public Library is an independent New York City library system serving the borough of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest in the United States. Its Central Library, Business Library, and 58 branch libraries offer free information, programs and computer access to all ages. Reach the Library’s resources of over 50 reference databases, catalog information and news 24 hours a day at www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org Citigroup Foundation is the corporate sponsor of 2002 educational programs at the Business Library.