PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT: GMU ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES WEATHER DEFENSE DOWNSIZING George Mason University's Entrepreneurship Center is launching a new program - the Defense Conversion Assistance Program - to help defense-reliant small businesses move to the commercial marketplace. The Center's program targets companies based in Northern Virginia that have at least 25 employees and annual revenues of $2.5 million or more (at least 25 percent of which are defense-based). The program is funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Virginia Small Business Development Network, and George Mason University. The Center's program focuses on helping the small business entrepreneur: Understand the new marketing environment; Develop competitive intelligence; Build a commercial sales organization; and Manage effectively in a chaotic marketplace. To survive reductions in federal government spending, especially in defense contracting, the small business must broaden its business base. The Northern Virginia Defense Conversion Assistance Program is a step in the right direction. For more information, call the Entrepreneurship Center's Hotline 703-277-7759. We'll also send you information about the Center's core programs and services.

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0396 19961105\SP-0002.MSC)