Join us to celebrate business community diversity InBiz Networking Reception Monday, July 21, 2008 4:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza 770 W. 47th Street Kansas City, MO Join local business owners as well as staff from local and state programs for minority and women-business development to celebrate our country's diverse business community. This local reception is part of our two-day convening of leaders from state government programs for minority and women-business development, 'Good for Business; Good for Communities'. Leaders from agencies in more than 20 states will be present. This local reception is part of our two-day convening of leaders from state government. Beverages (Cash Bar) and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. This event is free of charge, but please register at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=161721 Following the reception, join us for a special conference session M/WBE Procurement at the Local Level: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Cities and States Monday, July 21, 2008 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza Featured Panelists: -Deborah Chen, MWDBE Division Manager, City of Kansas City, MO -Lazone Grays, President/CEO, IBSA, Inc. -Tim Lohrentz, Program Manager, Insight Center for Community Economic Development -Angel McCormick Franks, Director, Missouri Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity M/WBE Procurement at the Local Level: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Cities and States. This special conference session will immediately follow the reception and will include representatives from the state of Missouri and local governments. Join colleagues at local and statewide levels to discuss best practices for local minority and women-business development. This event is free of charge, but please register at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=161721

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Small businesses, and especially minority- and women-owned businesses (MBEs and WBEs), are key components of regional and state economic development. MBEs and WBEs create jobs; spur reinvestment in lower-income communities; are a source of tax revenue, often in cash-strapped jurisdictions; and facilitate inter-generational wealth transfers. That is why we have created InBiz, the Inclusive Business Initiative - http://www.insightcced.org/index.php/insight-communities/inbiz.

2008 Insight Center for Community Economic Development 2201 Broadway, Suite 815, Oakland, CA 94612-3024 510-251-2600 www.insightcced.org