SBA Participates in Conference Which Grants Small Businesses Access to Government Contracts

Michelle Chaudry, President + CEO of HTA Technology Security Consulting,
Inc. I
found that throughout the process, working with them was very easy. SBTV is becoming the number
one choice for small business information on the net.

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"This program is hitting its stride and I am confident we
will meet or exceed our lending goal.S.

Over 50% of Small Business Owners Eat Out at Restaurants at Least 2 to 4 Times a Week According to SBTV.com Poll

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"This milestone demonstrates the continuing growth of the African American
business owner segment," said Ross-Dulan."
According to U. Wells Fargo Bank, N. "I plan to attend
the Central Illinois Homeland Security Symposium and would recommend that any
small business serious about finding government procurement opportunities in
this field, do the same," says Chaudry .icc.419 (5.

The Small Business News and Media category covers news services, television or radio programs , newspapers, magazines, and e-zines which deal exclusively with small business topics.

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The
conference -- which will take place at the Holiday Inn City Center in Peoria,
Illinois -- plans to match small businesses and local government to grant and
contracting opportunities with the U.92%) saying they eat out 1-2 times every week.

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Formed
in 1998, the program sponsors research to understand the unique needs of these
businesses and then it sponsors key community events, providing information
and resources.

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com/biz/aabs. These firms grew 25. Small
Business Administration (SBA) along with Congressman Ray LaHood, local
government agencies and over 200 business leaders will participate in a one-
day conference -- Central Illinois Homeland Security Symposium. In 2003, DHS awarded over 40 percent of its prime
contracts to small business, far exceeding the standard 23 percent
requirement., has received multiple prime and
subcontract awards to support Department of Homeland Security national
security activities.

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Capital Needs Being Met for One of the Fastest-Growing Small Business Segments

Wells Fargo Program Gains Momentum - on Track to Meet Ambitious Lending Goal

SAN FRANCISCO, Wells Fargo + Company
(NYSE: WFC) today announced it has exceeded the midpoint of its $1 billion
lending goal to African American business owners.

For more information about all of the SBA's programs for small businesses,
visit the SBA's extensive Web site at http: //www.sba. "The restaurant industry
realizes that many small business operators rely on restaurants as their
conference rooms," said Steven C. We believe that being an entrepreneur is
a way of living - not just a way to make a living.

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With a complete range of financial products and services
specifically catered to small business owners, Wells Fargo is exactly that
kind of partner. Day in and day out , they demonstrate their commitment to
African American entrepreneurs, and ensure we can deliver on our customer
promises.
Providing financial products and services to more than one million
businesses with annual sales up to $20 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico
and Canada, Wells Fargo is the #1 lender to small businesses in the United
States in total dollar volume according to 2003 CRA data. Its targeted business services programs
provide outreach and education to women , African American, Latino, and Asian
business owners about financial services.
The conference is sponsored by the Heartland Partnership, a consortium of
Central Illinois organizations involved in economic development. "Since March 2004, my company, HTA
Technology Security Consulting, Inc .16%) said they eat out every night of the week. "According to a survey conducted by the National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB), most Americans, 82%, think small business owners
work harder than the general population.

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But in
addition to recognizing this milestone, we are very focused on mapping a clear
vision on how to serve business owners in our community," said
Brenda Ross-Dulan, Wells Fargo Regional President for the Greater Los Angeles
area and national spokesperson for Wells Fargo 's African American Business
Services program. CHICAGO, On Friday, April 1, 2005, the U. Customs and Border Protection PAL Enrollment Center. DHS
program managers facilitated a seamless transition and were exceptionally open
to working with a small, woman-owned business. Of the more than 27,000
small business owners who responded to the question: "How many times a week do
you eat out at a restaurant?" 6,188 (22.2 trillion, with every dollar
spent dining out generating more than $2 in business for other industries.

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"Black History Month is a great time to celebrate this achievement . "2004 was a challenging year
economically for everyone.gov. According to NRA
research, restoring the meal deduction to 80% would increase business meal
sales by nearly $6 billion and generate an additional $19 billion for the
overall economy. As a total economic
impact, the restaurant industry generates $1.

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immediately cch

"
Wells Fargo's African American Business Services program is an outreach
and education program created to help increase small business owners access to
capital as well as a complete range of financial products and services. recently participated in SBA's 7(j) Executive Training Program and is
looking forward to the upcoming Homeland Security symposium.

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The program also established a public lending goal of
$1 billion over 12 years to African American business owners. The afternoon session will feature three
workshops focusing on government contract opportunities, subcontracting with
prime contractors, and accessing Homeland Security grants available for
research institutions and local governments.

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"Small business owners need partners who help them deliver on their customer
promises.2 billion. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
During the past few years, DHS has actively sought the support of the
business community in providing new and innovative strategies and products for
national security purposes, which has led to the development and expansion of
partnerships among both small and large businesses and federal, state and
local governments.
Department of Homeland Security -- and a number of large prime contractors
seeking potential subcontractors and suppliers," said Judith A.

For more information, contact 309-495-5972 or register at
http: //www.
An additional 1.com, is the Internet's first television network focused entirely on
providing news and information for small business.

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"As an entrepreneur, my business depends on my ability to quickly respond
to the needs of my clients," said Martha Daniels, owner of IMRI and winner of
the 2004 Turning Point/Wells Fargo Living History Makers Entrepreneur Award."
In partnership with Turning Point Magazine, Wells Fargo sponsors the
Living History Makers Entrepreneur Award, an annual award recognizing an
African American business owner for their business success and for making a
difference in their community. A $5,000 cash award is presented to the winner
at the Annual African American Business Summit in June.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo + Company is a diversified financial services company with
$428 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance , investments, mortgage
and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than
6 ,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.
Why are small business entrepreneurs staying out of their kitchens and
heading into their favorite eateries? "I think it is because they are so
busy ," said Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV, the Internet's first television
network focused entirely on providing news and information for small
businesses.

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is the only "Aaa"-rated bank
in the United States.
The second largest national SBA lender in dollars, Wells Fargo is an SBA
Preferred Lender in 28 states, and originated 3,555 loans for $495 million in
2004.
"The SBA is pleased to participate in this exciting symposium, where small
businesses from across Illinois will have an opportunity for matchmaking with
representatives of local, state and federal government -- including the U.

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edu/pdi/homeland.com.298, legislation that would restore the tax deduction for business meals and
entertainment expenses to 80% for all businesses.

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HTA was recently awarded a 5-year, $1. LOUIS , Many small business owners are spending
a considerable portion of their hard earned money eating out at restaurants
according to a recent poll conducted by SBTV.

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Wells Fargo Lends Half a Billion Dollars to African American Small Business Owners

More than $500 million has
been lent through Wells Fargo's African American Business Services program
since its inception in 1998. with annual receipts of
$71. Anderson, president and chief executive
officer of the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

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Census data (1992-1997), there are over 800,000 African
American-owned small businesses in the U.S. Roussel, SBA's
District Director for Illinois.
The National Restaurant Association also reports that in 2005 restaurant
industry sales are projected to reach $476 billion.

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The program promotes outreach and education,
along with access to capital, and provides comprehensive business products and
services that help business owners succeed financially.wellsfargo.com) across North America and
elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo has also been ranked the number one SBA 504 lender
nationally for the last two years. Since 1995, Wells Fargo has loaned
more than $23 billion to women and minority business owners.

8 million contract
in support of the U.

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For application information on the Turning Point/Wells Fargo Living
History Makers Award, please visit http://www.S. Business owners rely on
SBTV because it provides practical and compelling content produced by
experienced journalists and industry experts and delivers that information
conveniently and effectively via the Internet.

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The success we are seeing in our program clearly
illustrates that African American business owners are optimistic about the
future and will continue to be a driving economic force in 2005.A.S."
Throughout the conference, nearly 20 exhibitor booths will be available in
the exhibit hall where entrepreneurs can explore existing small business
opportunities the entire day.

ST."
Illustrating the strong economic connection between small businesses and
the restaurant industry is Senator Daniel Inouye's (D-HI) introduction of
S.

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7% during that time, compared to overall
small business growth of 8%.S.

SBTV.

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S.52%) respondents said they eat out 3-
4 times a week, with 10,147 (36. Based in St. Louis, MO,
SBTV is devoted 100 percent to the small business market - from business
start-ups to established enterprises.