May 12, 2008

Contact: Susan Seaman                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel: 707-822-4616 ext. 12

Email: susans@aedc1.org  

AEDC’s SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS CELEBRATES BUSINESS SUCCESS IN OUR COMMUNITY    

AEDC will commemorate 30 years of risk taking and dream making by celebrating achievements of this region’s small businesses at Spotlight on Success on May 22 at the Arcata Community Center. This free event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with music, food and an opportunity to meet business owners, partners, and key figures from AEDC’s history. Learn about the innovative endeavors that have been made possible, and continue to be made possible, with help from AEDC with a display of the organization’s rich history.

 Over 50 businesses and partnering agencies that have worked with AEDC will participate in the event, by hosting a table to share information about their business or agency, by providing a demonstration of their services, and by offering samples from several Humboldt County food manufacturing businesses. 

Robert Goodman Wine and Eel River beer will be available for purchase. A raffle, featuring prizes from local businesses, will support the Prosperity Scholarship Individual Development Account (IDA) program, providing business education, financial counseling and a 2:1 match for low income microenterprise business owners. 

Well known businesses like Holly Yashi and Cypress Grove Chevre have played a role in AEDC’s story, as have hundreds of other local businesses. New graduates from the Prosperity Scholarship IDA program for microenterprise business owners will also be featured at the event, representing the future of small business in our region.

“This event is a great opportunity for new business owners to talk with a variety of successful entrepreneurs and business support services, and for community members to meet our most recent business owners,” said Ross Welch, AEDC executive director. “We’re delighted to share our 30th anniversary celebration with so many of our clients and partners.”