Local Small Business Owners Come Together to Celebrate Overcoming Diversity and Fostering Success

Sept. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- BOISE—In today’s economy, where the struggle to make ends meet, let alone start up a business is exceptionally difficult for all, four local small business owners from both international and national backgrounds will be honored at  the 3rd annual Dividends Through Diversity event.

This year’s event will honor four entrepreneurs in the Treasure Valley who have pursued their dreams and started their own businesses. These diverse businesses include a promotional marketing company, an artisan jewelry store, a world farm for organic produce, and a vintage soda shop.

Each business owner has overcome amazing odds and have great stories to tell at META’s 3rd annual client recognition event. Dividends through Diversity will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Barber Park Education and Event Center from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The evening’s events will include a cocktail hour for networking, followed by an authentic international dinner, a celebration for the four honored entrepreneurs, and more.

“In the last year we have been able to not only retain 50 jobs within the area, but we also helped to create and launch over 70 more with $112,000 in microloans,” says META Program Director Ron Berning. “It is a great feeling to know we are making a step in the right direction with these business owners and for the future.”

Cost to attend this event is $60.  Table sponsorships are available for $600 and include a table for eight, company name in event program, table signage, and preferred placement.  For more information about this event, go to www.metaidaho.org or contact Amanda Larrinaga at alarrinaga@metaidaho.org or call 336.5533 ext. 267.

META is a nonprofit microenterprise program of Mountain States Group, Inc.  It started operations in 2002 with a federal grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement to provide technical assistance, business plan training, and microloans to refugees living in Idaho that had fled their homelands due to ethnic, religious, or political persecution.   Since that time, META has broadened its funding base with new grants through the U.S. Small Business Administration and Northwest Area Foundation to include immigrants, women, minorities, green-sector, and other underserved entrepreneurs.