Welcome To The

Office Of Urban InitiativesWeb Site

 

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OUI Opens Doors To.....

door.wmf (2678 bytes)Markets…through its Business Opportunity Program (BOP), OUI is helping minority and women-owned businesses open new markets by way of Erie County's procurement system. The result of our work so far has led to an increase in revenue and contracts awarded to some of the 250 minority and women-owned businesses participating in BOP.

 

door.wmf (2678 bytes)Capital…when fully operational in January 1998, the 50/50 Micro-Loan Program will provide to financial assistance for home-based and small retail minority and women-owned businesses, the range of $2,500 to $10,000, to be used for working capital, small equipment purchases and other business needs.

 

door.wmf (2678 bytes)Business Information Clearinghouse…includes a number of vehicles aimed at providing minority and women entrepreneurs and policy makers with the information they need to make informed decisions:

   The Minority and Women Owned Business Directory, provides a detailed profile of minority and women-owned businesses to public and private sector procurement offices throughout the region.

   Advance is the only trend letter in Western New York that focuses exclusively on business, economic and community development trends facing minority and women-owned businesses and underdeveloped neighborhoods.

   Idea Xchange is a quarterly digest that focuses on model business, economic and community development programs, funding sources and other issues impacting on the development of minority and women-owned businesses.

   Business and Community Development Forums is a series of forums designed to educate women and minority entrepreneurs, community organizations, and citizens on issues relating to accessing market opportunities, developing partnerships with financial institutions and forgoing joint ventures.

 

 door.wmf (2678 bytes) Technical Assistance…OUI is a federation of organizations, which includes representatives from every major economic development, business and community service providers, who work with MWBE's in Erie County. Through this network, we are able to link business enterprises to technical assistance.

 

Office of Urban Initiatives, 101C Fargo Quad, Ellicott Complex, Buffalo, N.Y. 14261

Phone #: (716)-829-2306.

Fax #: (716)-829-2341