Business seminar slated

A special seminar will be held in Highlands County for minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, and service-disabled veteran owned businesses.

Attendees will learn how to fill out the state of Florida Certification application and discover opportunities available for women, minority, and service-disabled veteran owned firms in both the government and private sectors.

According the state of Florida's Office of Supplier Diversity, the "state certification is Florida's premier stamp of approval for minority, women, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises. It is widely accepted across the state of Florida in the private sector as well as cities, counties, school districts, hospitals, water management districts and other quasi governmental entities."

The seminar will be presented by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at USF through South Florida Community College's Corporate and Continuing Education Department. The seminar will be held at SFCC in Avon Park on Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in Building T. Toregister for the seminar or to get more information, call the SBDC at 863-784-7379.

For businesses which are already certified or plan to be certified, the Florida 2009 Matchmaker Conference and Trade Show will be held in Orlando on Nov 18-20. Conference attendees will meet buyers and managers from various government agencies as well as the corporate sector.