Register for the 2009 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards

Please join us on Thursday, December 10 as we celebrate the achievements of Washington's minority business community at our 2009 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards.  This year's awards banquet will feature a keynote speech by Alaska Airlines Chairman and CEO William Ayer.

We are honored to have Bank of America and Chase as this year's gold sponsors and American Family Insurance as our silver sponsor. Below are ways your company can also participate in this year's event.

• Download our sponsorship information page and becoming an event sponsor.
• Contact Colleen Allison to advertise in the Puget Sound Business Journal's Minority Business Award Special Section.
• Purchase your registration or corporate table sponsorship online today.

Foster business students prepare for the BEDC Diversity in Business Case Competition sponsored by Target

Target has made its second annual premier sponsorship of the BEDC Diversity in Business Case Competition. We will host the 2009 BEDC Diversity in Business Case Competition sponsored by Target on October 30.  To learn more about this competition and to volunteer as a judge, please visit our BEDC Diversity in Business Case Competition website or contact Wil Tutol at 206-616-1216.

Join the BEDC Wind Farm Tour

The BEDC and NW Minority Supplier Diversity Council are organizing the second tour of the Desert Claim Wind Power Project on November 4. To learn more and to register, visit the BEDC Green Economy Network homepage, become a member of the network, and register through the promotion box on the right.

Help us welcome Geri Rodriguez to the BEDC family

September 14 marked the beginning of a new era for the BEDC as we welcome Geri Rodriguez to the BEDC family. Geri is no stranger to the Foster community.  A recent Foster MBA graduate and the recipient of the Ernest I.J. Aguilar Endowed Scholarship, Geri brings to the BEDC experience from her former career at Microsoft and an in-depth understanding of the Latino business community.  She will direct the BEDC Business Certificate Program, BEDC Board Fellows Program, and BEDC Summer Internship Program, helping us improve and grow these educational programs.

Join us in welcoming Geri by writing a message on the BEDC Facebook wall (requires login) or sending her an email.  We also encourage you to contact her to learn more about how to participate in our BEDC Business Certificate Program, Board Fellows Program, and Summer Internship Programs.

Free Legal Advice Drives Economic Development

For the 13th straight year, the King County Bar Association will team up with the BEDC to provide legal advice to small businesses in the Greater Seattle area enrolled in the BEDC Business Assistance Program. Together this effort has helped generate more than $60 million in new revenues and added more than 1,000 jobs to this region. [read full article]

Mental Health Works: A community forum on mental health in the workplace

Hosted by: Sound Mental Health and Seattle Central Community College

WHEN: Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30am
WHERE: Seattle Central Community College (1701 Broadway Ave, Seattle, 98122)
RSVP: Gayle Johnson - Sound Mental Health, 206-302-2260

This forum will teach business owners about the impacts of employee mental health, and provide insight as to how business owners can transform the way they think about and address issues related to mental health and substance abuse in their businesses, provide a model for other business leaders, and help advance a transformation of behavioral healthcare system that will change the face of care for generations to come.