FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2004

Contact: Stacey Swank, Business Development Manager

Pinellas County Economic Development

(727) 464-7425 or sswank@co.pinellas.fl.us

SBA Administrator Visits Pinellas in the Aftermath of
Hurricane Charley

to Discuss SBA Disaster Loan Program

Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) announced today that Hector V. Barreto, Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), will be visiting Pinellas County to discuss ongoing relief efforts by the agency in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.  The meeting will focus on the SBA Disaster Loan Program, emergency planning for local companies, ongoing community partnerships and SBA lending programs that can benefit local area businesses. Ron Reuss, President of Gulfcoast Business Finance, a local SBA lender, will present an update on his agency’s disaster relief efforts in Port Charlotte.

The meeting with Mr. Barreto will be hosted by Pinellas County Economic Development and facilitated by PCED Director, Mike Meidel.  The session will include Pinellas County Commission Chairman, Susan Latvala, local SBA lenders, and representatives from the business community.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, 2004, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., at the offices of Pinellas County Economic Development’s Business Development Center, located at 14010 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite 704, Clearwater, Florida 33762.  The participants will be available for media inquiries directly following the meeting, at 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please contact Stacey Swank at Pinellas County Economic Development, (727) 464-7425, sswank@co.pinellas.fl.us, or visit www.siliconbay.org.

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