BALTIMORE, MD (April 11, 2003) – Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration and noted figures in the corporate world will highlight the 2003 Small Business Ombudsman & Assistance Program National Conference that gets underway at the Sheraton Inner Harbor starting Sunday, April 13.

The Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Environmental Permit Service Center is hosting this annual conference that draws together roughly 150 business assistance providers, business owners, government officials and trade associations from across the nation. MDE Deputy Secretary Kendl Philbrick and Tom Sullivan, chief counsel in the office of Advocacy for the Small Business Administration will be among the featured speakers.

The conference aims to give small business assistance providers educational and training opportunities to improve their environmental assistance skills and techniques when working with small businesses. More than 20 sessions ranging from multi-media issues, performance measurement, compliance assistance, funding, pollution prevention, facilities field trips and regulatory updates are planned over the four-day event.

For more information call MDE’s Environmental Permit Service Center at (410) 537-3772.

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