Business groups launch March focus on small business in the Heights

Small businesses employ more than half of the national work force and are crucial to our economy, as was frequently mentioned during last year's presidential election.

Our region's largest small business support organization, the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), is working with the 14 local chamber of commerce partners in its COSE Affiliate Program to launch a year-long intiative called The Year of the Small Business. Throughout 2013, COSE will work with each chamber partner to hold a month-long celebration in its community. COSE is launching the year-long program by teaming up with the Heights-Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce (HRCC) to focus on small businesses in the HRCC service area of Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Shaker Heights, Richmond Heights, South Euclid, and Lyndhurst during the month of March.

The Year of the Small Business campaign will begin with a kick-off event on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the A.M. McGregor Home, 14900 Private Drive in East Cleveland. Entitled “A Perfect Pairing,” the event will feature wine and cheese from Whole Foods and Scoperta. Those attending can learn how the partnership between HRCC and COSE can support their businesses. City officials from areas covered by HRCC will be present and attendees will have the opportunity to win prizes.

“We are so proud to be the chamber partner on the launch of the Year of the Small Business campaign,” said Angie Pohlman, HRCC executive director. “I think our members are going to be in for some surprises during March, and I encourage everyone to come out and participate in the events.”

Other upcoming events include the Business Breakfast Series: Expo Pre-Show Breakfast on Tradeshow Networking on March 14, and the Business Breakfast Series: Multiple Income Streams on March 28. Both start at 8 a.m. at the 700 Beta Banquet and Conference Center in Mayfield Village.

Throughout March, “street teams” from COSE and HRCC will make surprise visits to local businesses in the Heights area to deliver resource bags containing fun and valuable resources for local business.

“COSE working with local chambers, such as HRCC, is so important to the success of our local small business community,” said Steve Millard, president and executive director at COSE. “Our Year of the Small Business campaign gives us a great platform to collaborate with the local chambers in their communities.”

A website for the Year of the Small Business campaign, www.yearofthesmallbiz.com, to launch in March, contains articles and resources to help small businesses. Site visitors who submit their individual goals as  small business professionals will be entered in a drawing to win prizes, including $500 and $250 in cash, a first-class trip to COSE’s Annual Small Business Convention, free admission to the annual small business day in Columbus, COSE Day at the Capitol, a free scholarship to a COSE Wellness Tracks class, and more.

For more information about the Year of the Small Business, contact COSE at 216-592-2222.

Randy Carpenter

Randy Carpenter is the senior director of corporate communications and public relations at the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).

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Volume 6, Issue 3, Posted 12:57 PM, 02.28.2013