SCORE Forms Public/Private Consortium to Drive Small Business Growth with Adoption of Technology

New Alliance Provides Support for the FCC National Broadband Plan

WASHINGTON, April 1  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is pleased to announce the formation of a public/private partnership to accelerate small business growth through access to broadband. SCORE, Fortune 500 Companies and leading technology firms will launch a national initiative to accelerate broadband adoption. Learn more at http://www.score.org/Broadband_event_2010.html.

The consortium will help increase small business growth through the use of broadband technologies, as SCORE seeks to grow 1 million small businesses. SCORE in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will work to encourage small business success through the use of technology.

Leading technology firms in the United States and SCORE's extensive network of 12,400 business mentors across the country are partnering to help level the playing field for small business through broadband access. SCORE supports the FCC's Broadband Plan. The founding consortium partners are: AT&T, Best Buy, Cisco, Constant Contact, Google, HP, Intuit, Microsoft, Skype and Time Warner Cable Business Class. Supporters include DRT Strategies and Engage.

SCORE CEO Ken Yancey says, "Broadband connectivity is critical for business success in today's marketplace. We want to make it easier for small businesses to access this technology to create efficiencies, leverage e-commerce, expand marketing, and increase social networking online." Yancey adds, "This consortium will make it easier than ever for small businesses to learn about using technology to grow their businesses, using broadband to enable e-commerce and leveraging technology to meet the demands of today's consumers."

The new initiative will focus on increasing digital literacy, web skills, e-commerce capabilities and online communications tools usage for small businesses. Consortium founders are donating to The SCORE Foundation free or discounted services and applications, training content, train-the-trainer assistance and funding.

SCORE will expand its services, through its 364 local chapters, to use these new resources and help small businesses leverage technology and boost their productivity and growth.

Register: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2taz42hedd6e95f

Why Attend: Meet corporate, government and small business leaders who are all committed to the success of small business through the use of technology.

• Meet Fortune 500 Companies, government & small business leaders.
• Learn about the partnership in the FCC Broadband Plan.
• Hear from entrepreneurs about how they achieve success with broadband.
• Be the first to find out about new training & tools planned for small business.

Speakers

• FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski
• SBA  Administrator Karen Mills
• SCORE CEO Ken Yancey
• Two SCORE clients using broadband will share their online successes.
• Panel discussion with representatives from AT&T, Best Buy, Cisco, Constant Contact, Google, HP, Intuit, Microsoft, Skype and Time Warner Cable Business Class.

HP has partnered with SCORE in support of technology for small business for seven years and was one of the first companies to join the consortium effort. Supporters include DRT Strategies and Engage.

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 8.5 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through mentoring and workshops. More than 12,400 volunteer business counselors in 364 chapters serve their communities through entrepreneur education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE on the web at http://www.score.org and http://www.score.org/women.

SOURCE SCORE Association