The U.S. Small Business Administration will honor 15 Milwaukee businesses who participated in the first class of the Emerging 200 Initiative (e200) tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District office, 260 W. Seeboth St.
The e200 program identified a series of 200 inner city businesses around the country that had high growth potential. The business owners were then enrolled in a free six month business education program that focused on organization management, growth strategies and growth management, market development and strategic planning.
The 15 Milwaukee businesses who took part in this year’s e200 program are: Buveck Consultants, Companion Natural Pet Food, Cross Management Services Inc., Holliman & Laster Plumbing, Maures Development Corp., McDowell Construction, Phoenix Electric, Penebaker Enterprises, Pinnacle XL Inc., Prism Technical, Ramirez Restoration, Reynolds Pasty Shop, Spann & Associates, Wild Flour Bakery, and Zoe Engineering.
Other cities that took part in this year’s program included Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Des Moines, Memphis, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
“These business owners participated in a mini-MBA curriculum that focused on developing a winning strategy for their business, including options for capital access and contracting,” said SBA Deputy Administrator Jovita Carranza. “They worked with mentors, attended workshops, and networked with leaders in the business and financial community. The results have so exceeded our expectations we are adding five expansion cities so that we can train up to 250 urban entrepreneurs this coming year.”
