Mayor Barnett to Attend Mayors Conference on Entrepreneurship

From City of Rochester Hills: Mayor Bryan K. Barnett will join mayors from around the nation at the fourth annual Mayors Conference on Entrepreneurship, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Barnett is among hundreds of mayors across the county that will come together to explore how cities can make entrepreneurial opportunities available to all.

Convened by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that aims to foster economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success, the conference is held in partnership with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. Maria Contreras-Sweet, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be a keynote speaker.

The conference will explore how cities can build diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial communities that foster equitable economic growth. This year’s event will address:

• How cities can engage potential entrepreneurs – especially women and minorities, who often face the greatest barriers
• How to connect entrepreneurs of all types and backgrounds
• Support strategies for diverse businesses, from startups to Main Street small businesses, to high-growth firms
• Policies that foster entrepreneurship and create economic opportunity
• Creative and innovative solutions to other long-standing city issues

“Entrepreneurs are a huge part of our local economy and help our community to stay innovative and vibrant,” states Mayor Bryan K. Barnett. “I’m looking forward to learning from the nation’s best and showing some of our community’s successes.

Costs for the conference are covered by the Kauffman Foundation.

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