RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference and the Women’s Business and Buyer Mart on September 22, 2010
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WHEREAS, the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) is a nationally recognized non-profit women’s business assistance organization devoted to providing services and programs that support and accelerate women’s business ownership and strengthen the impact of women on the economy; and
WHEREAS, the WBDC will hold its 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference and Women’s Business and Buyers Mart on September 22, 2010, at McCormick Place- West; and
WHEREAS, this conference will offer the participants an opportunity to increase the profitability of their businesses by building relationships with corporate and government buyers, business experts, and other women business owners; and
WHEREAS, the WBDC has put forth creative and innovative approaches to empowering women and their families, striving to influence the larger political and economic environment in a way that encourages and supports women’s economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, the WBDC was founded in 1986 by S. Carol Dougal and Hedy M. Ratner and since then more than 50,000 women business owners have used its programs and services including one-on-one counseling, workshops, entrepreneurial training, Women’s Business Finance program, Women’s Business Enterprise Certification program, Procurement and Technical Assistance program, Child Care Business Initiative and program, and Women’s Tech and Venture program; and
WHEREAS, the WBDC has taught more than 50,000 women entrepreneurs practical business skills through one-on-one counseling and training workshops; successfully implemented a bilingual initiative to assist Latinas with business development; launched the Asian American Women Business Initiative with Women's Bureau, Department of Labor and Asian American alliance to assist Asian women back into entrepreneurship; helped women-owned businesses win over $250 million in government and private sector contracts; and facilitated over $35,000,000 in loans; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has been a pioneer in recognizing the economic contribution of business women; and
WHEREAS, this recognition is evinced by the District’s early adoption and continuing advocacy of a policy which supports the legitimate aspirations of women’s businesses within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the development of women’s business enterprises is in the best interest of the District, City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois and United States of America; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, hereby join in recognizing the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference and Women’s Business and Buyers Mart; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the Women’s Business Development Center.
Dated: September 2, 2010
Approved: TERRENCE J. O’BRIEN, President; KATHLEEN THERESE MEANY, Vice-President; GLORIA ALITTO MAJEWSKI, Chairman, Committee on Finance; FRANK AVILA; PATRICIA HORTON; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS; Mariyana T. Spyropoulos; DEBRA SHORE Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Frederick M. Feldman, General Counsel