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July,
2000
U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT
HONORS COBB MICROENTERPRISE CENTER
ATLANTA,
GA – The Cobb Microenterprise Center, which teaches low and
moderate income people how to start and run their own
businesses, was chosen as a local “best practices” winner by
the Office of the Secretary’s Representative of the U.S.
Department of Housing and urban Development. It is the
second significant honor the council has received recently;
earlier this year, the U.S. Small Business Administration
awarded the council a Vision 2000 award, calling it a Model
of Excellence for Small Business Development.
The Cobb
Microenterprise Center, based at the Michael J. Coles
College of Business at Kennesaw State University, has taught
crucial business skills to dozens of men and women.
Eighty-four people have graduated from the program.
Twenty-five are currently enrolled and will graduate August
24. Partners in the effort include the KSU Small Business
Development Center, United Way of Cobb County, the YWCA of
Cobb County and Cobb Family Resources.
Coles
College Dean Tim Mescon praised both the Council and its
Executive Director Patricia Harris. “The efforts of the Cobb
Microenterprise Center to transfer individuals from
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to work is critical
to successful economic development,” Mescon said. “Patricia
Harris is a winner, and this is a great reflection of the
high quality of this wonderful program.”
Davey L.
Gibson, the secretary’s representative for the Southeast and
Caribbean region, notified the group of the honor by letter.
“Thanks to the hard work and good ideas of you and your
colleagues and the same in hundreds of other organizations
around the country,” Gibson said, “We are proving that
providers, housing authorities and local governments can, in
partnership with HUD, find new and innovative ways to
address old problems.”
The Cobb
Microenterprise Center is not in contention to become one of
100 “Best of the Best” winners. The winners will be
announced in early August at the 2nd Annual Best Practices
Symposium in Washington, D.C.
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Contact: Terri Thornton
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