Minority and women-owned businesses will continue to play a significant role in the economic growth of Coastal Fairfield County. Under the New Partners Initiative, the Business Council of Fairfield County, the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce will leverage their positions as leading business organizations to help expand opportunities for minority and women-focused business development groups.

Mission
Strengthen the viability and help spur growth of "resource" organizations such as the Greater Stamford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Connecticut Minority Suppliers Development Council, MicroCredit Businesses (Bridgeport), the Hispanic Merchants' Association (Bridgeport) and the Women's Business Development Center (regional).

Strategies

• Increase their access to leaders within the general business community, and assist their board recruitment and strategic networking efforts.
• Directly serve targeted businesses by engaging them in the programs and services of our organizations.
• Provide free meeting space and wireless Internet access to all members and clients of these organizations in our offices in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford, simplifying their efforts to function with the region's business centers.
• Provide them and the initiative regular exposure in Council publications and in advertorial space that we utilize in commercial publications throughout the region.

For more information contact:
The Bridgeport Regional Business Council
203-335-3800
www.brbc.org