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DC Small Businesses Awarded Technology Tools to Better Compete in Today's Digital Economy

Thursday, August 1, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013; 10 am to 11 am

What : An event marking the culmination of the 10-month Small Business Success Project, including a special presentation of software and hardware to 21 small business owners committed to boosting sales, efficiency, and market share through technology integration

When: Wednesday, August 7, 2013; 10 am to 11 am

Where: DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) Headquarters, 200 I Street, SE, Lobby, Washington, DC 20003

Who:

    Rob Mancini, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, CTO
    Delano Squires, Connect DC,  Director
    Marla Bilonick, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), Small Business Development Director
    James Jones,  DMV Aquatics,  Business Owner
    Alex McCracken, The Wydown Coffee Bar (featured in the Washingtonian’s Best of Washington 2013), Business Owner
    Cleotilde Kimmel and Mitzi Villanueva , Mana Bilingual Child Development Center, Business Owners

Background: As small businesses compete with their larger counterparts, the integration of low-cost technology tools can help those with fewer resources work smarter and thrive in today’s digital economy. Since November 2012, the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) have partnered to connect more than 200 DC entrepreneurs through the Small Business Success Project with the skills and tools to better integrate technology into their business operations. Through classroom trainings and webinars in multiple languages on topics ranging from basic computing to website development, small businesses stand poised to raise their visibility, attract new customers, and boost their efficiency. The event will focus on the achievements of local entrepreneurs who embraced technology to advance their business goals. It will feature the delivery of hardware (including laptops, tablets, square registers) and software (including Quickbooks, Microsoft Office, CRM software, or Point of Sales Systems) to 21 DC businesses to complement their new skills and education. Immediately after the presentation, business owners will participate in a special training on how to use their new technology tools.

About Connect.DC

Connect.DC was established by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) of the District of Columbia Government to draw attention to the advantages of technology and collaborate with government, nonprofit and corporate entities to advance citywide broadband access and education initiatives. Connect.DC is funded by a combination of OCTO resources and two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants—State Broadband Initiative (SBI) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)—through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the United States Department of Commerce.

About LEDC

Working families deserve to live in affordable homes and own successful small businesses – but too many are unable to turn these dreams into a reality. The Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) equips Latinos and other DC-area residents with the skills and financial tools to create a better future for their families and communities. Participants in our programs learn how to buy and stay in their homes, take control of the decisions affecting their apartments building, and start or expand small businesses. For more information, please visit ledcmetro.org.

Media Contacts

Ash Kosiewicz (202) 425-1303
Jill Melnicki (202) 442-3201