WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announced today that he will be hosting a series of small business panels in western Wisconsin during the month of April.

Each of the panels will feature experts to discuss resources available to small businesses. Panelists will guide business owners through accessing aid and taking advantage of such resources including tax credits, business initiatives, lending, procurement and more. Each event will include a panel discussion, Q&A with panelists, and an opportunity for business owners to work individually with panelist on questions and concerns.  

The first of three panels will focus more on the needs of rural small businesses, including family farms, and will include panelists representing both the Farm Service Association and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency.

Monday, April 18, 2011 from 10:30-noon
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Lenz Center, Room 365
1800 Bronson Blvd
Fennimore, WI

Featured guests include:

• Kim Kindschi, Small Business Development Center and Executive Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at UW Extension will discuss grant opportunities available to small businesses and ways UW Extension can advocate for small businesses in securing funding, patents, starting up a business, and utilizing the vast resources in the UW System.  
• Ray Ellenberger from USDA’s Wisconsin Farm Service Agency will discuss lending opportunities for small businesses and family farmers who need financial assistance.
• Joe Wolfe & Tom Wolfe from Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation will discuss micro-lending and the range of services available to businesses.
• Jeff Hudson from USDA Rural Development Agency will detail programs and services available to rural businesses and communities.
• Attendees also include representatives from the Community Bankers and the Wisconsin Credit Union League to answer questions regarding lending and the credit market.  

The remaining panels focus on federal resources available to small businesses and will discuss ways for small business owners to take advantage of such opportunities.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 from 9-10:30am
La Crosse Public Library
800 Main Street
La Crosse, WI

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from 10:30-noon
UW-River Falls Hudson Center
2501 Hanley Road, 2nd Floor
Hudson, WI

Featured guests include:

• Sunny Kessel, U.S. Export Assistance Office, U.S. Department of Commerce will share ways the USEAC can help businesses begin to export – by helping identify markets, developing effective market-entry strategies, facilitating implementation of strategies, and providing assistance in obtaining trade finance.
• Kim Kindschi, Small Business Development Center and Executive Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at UW Extension will discuss grant opportunities available to small businesses and ways UW Extension can advocate for small businesses in securing funding, patents, starting up a business, and utilizing the vast resources in the UW System.  
• Anne Hlavacka, Small Business Development Center at UWL will talk about procurement opportunities and the procurement process.
• Steve DeWald, Director of UWRF Small Business Development Center will talk about entrepreneurship and how to put together a successful business plan.
• Karen Brehmer, Alan Gregerson and Ann Makres, IRS Regional Stakeholder Liaisons will speak to the tax benefits that benefit small businesses.
• A Wisconsin Small Business Administration representative has been invited to detail lending to small and start up businesses.

Attendees also include representatives from the Community Bankers and the Wisconsin Credit Union League to answer questions regarding lending and the credit market.  In addition, Barbara Eckblad, Director of Lending for the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation will be in attendance.