March 23, 1999
(Development and Rural Renewal)

The following statement was issued today by John Efford, acting Minister of Development and Rural Renewal. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I take this opportunity to inform Honourable Members of a special event that is under way in St. John's today, and continues tomorrow. I am referring to the Y Entrepreneurship Conference.

This conference is a joint effort of the YM-YWCA Enterprise Centre and the Department of Development and Rural Renewal, as part of its mandate to foster the development of small businesses.

The conference is designed for those who want to start their own business, especially young people. They are people who recognize that the best opportunities are the ones we create ourselves. They may have a good idea for a business, but want additional information or assistance to help them get that business off the ground.

The conference will help them do that. The agenda sessions are devoted to such topics as researching a business concept, developing a sound business plan, understanding how marketing works, the basics of financial statements, and financing options for starting a business.

Through business speakers, group work and other activities, this high-energy conference will take participants through all the steps required to produce a top-notch business plan.

It will help empower aspiring entrepreneurs to get their business idea kick-started. Newfoundland and Labrador is a great place to do business, and the Department of Development and Rural Renewal is proud to be a partner in stimulating economic growth and job creation in the province.

Close to 100 people have registered for the two-day conference, being held at the Battery Hotel.

I commend both the staff of the Y Enterprise Centre and the Avalon Region of my department for helping prepare people to start up and operate their own small business.

1999 03 23                                             2:15 p.m.