24th ANNUAL BTW CONFERENCE

September 15-17, 2020

Virtual Conference

About BTW

THEME:
Growing Your 21^st Century Business in Today’s New “Economic” Normal

CONFERENCE DATES &TIMES:
September 15-17 2020 at 9 A.M. to 11 A.M.

WHERE:
Due to COVID19, the 2020 BTW Summit will be held Virtually.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Start-up and established entrepreneurs from the minority business sector, leaders of trade associations and community-based organizations, collegiate entrepreneurs, government staff working in HBCU and other university service areas, interested parties involved in economic development, etc.

For more information, please direct any queries to Gary Walton at gwalton@tuskegee.edu

Conference Background

The Booker T. Washington Economic Summit is part of the Community Resources and Economic Development Extension & Research planned program area that focuses on enhancing financial security and better management of available resources for individuals and families, start-up micro-entrepreneurs and communities. Research and/or Extension Team Projects (RETPs) for this program area are: (a) Family Finances, (b) Start-up Businesses and Non-Profits, (c) Heir Property and African American Landloss and (d) Volunteer Leadership Development.

The Booker T. Washington Economic Summit uses the historical and philosophical perspectives of Booker T. Washington to focus on present day challenges and opportunities to promote entrepreneurship and community economic development in small towns, the southern region, and rural America. As a conference, the objectives are:

Provide technical assistance and experiential learning opportunities for individuals and organizations to grow and become eligible for financing opportunities
Provide a forum and a source of information on funding that eligible individuals can access to launch and/or grow their for-profit and not-for-profit business entities
Act as an aggregation point for entities in target industries seeking to improve their profitability through alliances, partnerships and/or cooperatives

Conference participants are expected from the minority business and agri-business sectors, community-based organizations, government, HBCUs and other universities. They will convene to participate in the Business Pitch Competition; learn more about procurement and funding opportunities; examine best practices, programs and policies; and exhibit success stories and model business programs for new opportunities and growth.

Conference Outcomes

1. To educate participants about implications of current trends and policies
2. To network among small business owners, community leaders, and technical assistance agencies and organizations
3. To facilitate access to federal, state, and private sector contracts resources
4. To support advocacy work for better programs and policies