Five Powerhouse Organizations Partner to Provide Small Business Works Seminars

Updated on March 27, 2023

Allegheny County, The City of Pittsburgh, The Small Business Administration, Duquesne University–Small Business Development Center, and Building Bridges for Business will host Small Business Works seminars to educate and empower business owners.  The first seminar in the series will be held on April 28, 2011 at the Kingsley Association in East Pittsburgh.  The keynote speaker will inspire attendees and 20+ exhibitors will showcase resources to start or grow business.

“Building Bridges For Business should help eliminate barriers by connecting businesses to resource partners,” says Carl Knoblock of the Small Business Administration.  The United States SBA has helped small business owners since 1953 by offering loans, contracts, counseling sessions, and other forms of assistance. The Pittsburgh District Office is located downtown.

The five organizations partnered and will host the April and several other Small Business Works events scheduled in neighborhoods in Allegheny County.  Every event will provide access to  education and the region’s amazing business resources.  Additional Small Business Works events will be held in June 2011 at Google Pittsburgh focusing on Young Entrepreneurs and in the Fall focusing on Welcome to Oz – How being green can benefit you and your business.  Details for the April 2011 Small Business Works event are located on www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org. These events will allow participants to expand networking opportunities and meet valuable business resources at the same time.   Sponsors include The Pittsburgh Technology Council, The Pittsburgh Business Times, and Comcast Business Class.  Register for this free event at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

“The vision for the Building Bridges for Business community is an environment where entrepreneurs can grow and advance their business, support other business owners, and develop as entrepreneurs giving back to their community,” says Building Bridges for Business founder Linda Handley, an entrepreneur, author and business advisor.  “We want to bridge the valuable resources in Western Pennsylvania with business owners and residents who want to start a business,” says Amanda Wodzenski, President of Building Bridges.  Building Bridges for Business was created based on the need Handley and others saw in the area understanding that small and start up business owners have limited finances.

“Pittsburgh has an exceptional variety of excellent sources to start, grow and build a successful business. Getting business to the right source at the right time is our goal at Building Bridges for Business.  The right advice and business guidance is crucial for long term success.  Timing is everything in business and this is the time to encourage growth and sustainability in our region,”  stated JoAnn R. Forester, BBB Board member, 30 plus year business owner of S. I. Business and 2010 YWCA Tribute to Women Honoree.

Handley, a successful small business owner herself, offers these 3 Facts about Business.

Three Facts about Businesses*:

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration has seen lots of small businesses come and, unfortunately, go. According to the SBA, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first five years.
  • The 29.6 million small businesses in the United States employ just over half of the country’s private sector workforce.  Small business growth is continuing at an amazing rate and is substantially impacting the economy.
  • Employ just over half of the country’s private sector workforce and generate a majority of the innovations that come from US companies.

Building Bridges for Business focuses on business growth, promotion, management, and people who want to launch a new business. In the past year, Building Bridges has grown and showcases over 30+ Pittsburgh resources.  Building Bridge’s goal is to create an organization that truly serves the “small” business owner or struggling entrepreneur.

There is no fee or yearly membership rate to join as a general member of Building Bridges for Business. That is one of the major factors that differentiates Building Bridges from other business and networking groups.   Additionally, Building Bridges has plans to offer educational webinars empowering and educating entrepreneurs throughout the year.  The variety of programming, allows Building Bridges for Business to provide value to the greatest number of education and business resources regardless of budgetary and time constraints.    Visit www.BuildingBridgesForBusiness.org for a full listing of resource partners, educational opportunities and events.

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