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o celebrate National Small Business Month, over 200 professionals, small business owners, and members of the Boston community gathered on Tuesday, May 24, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s rooftop garden to network at the 3rd Get Konnected event of this year. |
Launched in March 2008, Get Konnected is the brainchild of PR and multicultural marketing pioneer, Colette Phillips, President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc. Get Konnected is a professional and social multicultural networking event for professionals of all cultures in Greater Boston.
Tuesday’s event was sponsored in part by Boston-based Eastern Bank, Massachusetts’ top small business lender based on loan volume. Special guests of the evening included Carole Cornelison, Commissioner of the State’s Division of Capital Management (DCAM) and Steven Grossman, Treasurer of Massachusetts.
Cornelison spoke briefly about her work at DCAM and the important partnership opportunities between the state agency and small business owners around the areas of major public building construction and real estate operations.
The keynote speaker at this event, Massachusetts State Treasurer Steven Grossman commended Eastern Bank for its role in providing much needed access to capital to credit-worthy small business owner borrowers.
Grossman talked about leadership, and the need to provide equal access to minority-owned businesses across the Commonwealth. He was eloquent in acknowledging the importance of small businesses for America and specifically for Massachusetts, including spur innovation, create jobs, and make the local economy more competitive. “More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, they also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness” said Grossman.
Grossman talked about initiatives such as the State Treasurer’s Small Business Banking Partnership to provide loans to Massachusetts business owners to fund growth and create jobs locally. To date, thirty banks have signed on to this innovative program, and Grossman expressed satisfaction about the opportunities that it will create for regional entrepreneurs. “The Partnership will result in more loans originating at Massachusetts banks which will go to Massachusetts small businesses.”
