KOSBE Presents Agriculture Business & Management Forum

September 10, 2014

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) will host an agriculture business and management forum on Wednesday, September 24 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at your Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. The event is co-sponsored by the Small Business Development Center ETSU – Kingsport Affiliate, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration (SBA), Keep Kingsport Beautiful (KKB), and First Bank & Trust.

The forum is beneficial for agriculture businesses, agriculture producers, technology and equipment vendors, food and FMCG companies, investors, consultants, traders, and banks. Attendees will learn about programs available for agriculture businesses, resources for organic farmers, succession planning, the newest advances in technology and computer science that have advanced the field of agriculture and made agriculture practices more efficient and convenient, processing and distributing of agricultural commodities, and agriculture business ideas that can be implemented today.

“Agricultural producers face many uncertainties related to weather and commodity prices over which they have little or no control. Learning about programs and opportunities to help your enterprise is a smart way to manage those factors you can control. This event will expose attendees to some new tools to help make their operation profitable and reduce costs,” said Roy Settle, Agricultural Lender – First Bank & Trust Company.

This forum hosts multiple speakers, including: Charles R. Morris, Area Specialist- USDA Rural Development; Anna West, Loan Specialist – USDA Rural Development; Tamara McNaughton, Agricultural Program Manager – Appalachian Sustainable Development; Ed Harlan, Assistant Commissioner of Market Development – Tennessee Department of Agriculture; Walter Perry, District Director – SBA Tennessee District Office; and Aundrea Wilcox, Executive Director – KOSBE. There is a possibility of additional speakers.

There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. Please R.S.V.P. online at http://bit.ly/agbiz924, or by contacting Dana Glenn, who can be reached at 423.392.8825 or dglenn@tsbdc.org.

The Tennessee Small Business Development Centers Network, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, is an accredited member of the National Association of Small Business Development Centers and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, participating universities and community colleges, and regional support partners. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA and other program sponsors. All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. All information, events, and/or prices are subject to change or withdrawal. The Tennessee Small Business Development Centers Network shall not be held responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints. Please confirm the information with the listing party.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Dana Glenn at 400 Clinchfield Street, Suite 100, Kingsport, TN 37660 or at 423-392-8825.

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