(Atlanta, GA) -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Coz Carson
Communications Director
404-633-0927 Cozcarson@gmail.com

Friday, April 21, 2006

Today, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney announced the formation of the Fourth Congressional District Business Advisory Committee.  The Congresswoman will solicit input from small business owners for an action agenda to improve the quality of life in the Fourth District of Georgia and in our country.

"I have heard from too many small business owners that it has been increasingly difficult to thrive and survive in today's competitive environment," McKinney remarked.  "The purpose of our Business Advisory Committee will be to receive input directly from business owners and to develop an action plan to address their most important issues.  I expect this effort to be broadly based to include business
owners from many walks of life," she continued.

McKinney has long supported and obtained funding for small businesses and entrepreneurs, dating from her tenure in the Georgia Legislature.

There her work resulted in Governor Zell Miller's acknowledgment that more needed to be done to increase opportunity for small and minority business owners in Georgia.  McKinney has continued to work with the
Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce and believes that the formation of a Business Advisory Committee will help support businesses important to our overall economic health.

McKinney recently hosted an Australia Trade Mission in Washington, DC that was trying to learn how to do business in the United States. They are interested in McKinney's home state of Georgia.  McKinney has since formed a relationship with SABAN, the South Australia Business Network, and extended an invitation to those business owners in Washington, DC to come to Georgia for direct talks with 4th District business owners.  Congresswoman McKinney looks forward to hosting SABAN in Georgia.

During McKinney's first tenure in Congress, McKinney introduced several Georgia business owners to the world of international trade, hosting many workshops with Ambassadors in Washington, DC and bringing
together federal agencies, local business owners, and those
Ambassadors in Georgia.

But McKinney wants business owners to find opportunity at home as well as abroad.  "Washington is rife, now, with a culture of no-bid contracts that squeeze out opportunity for small business owners.  We have received complaints of contract bundling and restricted lists that deny opportunity to too many small businesses.  I hope we are able to cut through some of that culture and provide opportunity for small businesses," according to McKinney.

McKinney has successfully obtained millions of dollars in federal funds for the 4th Congressional District.  She also successfully obtained federal funding for several revolving loan funds and the South DeKalb Business Incubator.  McKinney invites all business owners interested in working together to contact the Congressional Office for more information.

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