Applicants with the most promising growth plans will be invited to compete in New York on October 24th to receive one-on-one mentoring, marketing assistance, a line of credit from OPENSM, a loan from Count Me In, technology support from Cisco Systems and the opportunity to take part in QVC’s product search and sell their products on the network.  

More than 500 applications were received for the San Francisco event earlier this year where 20 women entrepreneurs were chosen to receive Make Mine a $Million Business Awards.

Twenty awardees will be chosen from a pool of women-owned business applicants nationwide for the October 24th event at the Manhattan Center Ballroom in New York. The application deadline for applications for the New York competition is September 29.  Three technical workshops will be held in August and September in New York where applicants can receive help filling out their applications and learn more about the program and selection process.

"Make Mine a $Million Business is making a difference and attracting a diverse group of entrepreneurs and businesses," said Nell Merlino, president, Count Me In.  "As the program continues to gain momentum the awardees are expanding their resources and networks to benefit the growth of their own and one another’s businesses."

In addition to the tangible assistance the Make Mine a $Million Business program will provide this year to 40 awardees nationwide, it is also raising awareness for the growth challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and building a community of one million women-owned businesses dedicated to growing million-dollar enterprises  by 2010. This movement could help add up to four million jobs and $700 billion to the US economy "When just 3% of women-owned businesses generate more than $1 million in revenue annually, it is clear that we need to open new growth opportunities, right now," said Susan Sobbott, president, OPEN from American Express, and member of the program’s Mentoring Council. "We at OPEN are proud to commit financing as well as mentors from within and outside of the American Express family who are motivated to help women realize their dreams."

Marketing and Technology Powerhouses Provide Support.

QVC  offers a potential market for women business owners’ products through its product search program that will occur in conjunction with the New York event. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to participate by presenting their products to QVC buyers for consideration. Additionally, QVC has developed educational seminars that provide strategic insight to the company, including "How to Get a Product on QVC" and successful marketing strategies.

QVC is also giving qualified Make Mine a $Million Business program awardees an opportunity to sell their products to a national television audience. Annette Grignard of New York, owner of pet product maker Pet Dreams and a 2005 Make Mine a $Million awardee, recently sold her pet bed products on the network as a result of the new alliance between QVC and the Make Mine a $Million Business program.

Cisco will donate network technology and program packages to ten awardees, five from the West Coast event and five from the East, to help grow their businesses and sustain a competitive advantage. The packages include a Smart Business Communications networking system valued at up to $20,000 as well as support and services via Cisco authorized partners.

In 2005, Count Me In and OPEN introduced Make Mine a $Million Business program to help women entrepreneurs grow and build sustainable enterprises, create jobs and develop innovative products and services.  In last year’s Make Mine a $Million Business pilot program, 23 women entrepreneurs from across the country received one-on-one mentoring, marketing assistance and money in the form of Count Me In loans to fund their growth. 2005 Awardee Denise Houseberg, owner of MarketExpo.com based in Frisco, Texas, has already turned her business into a million-dollar enterprise with assistance she received from the program.

About Count-Me-In

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of on-line business loans and resources for women to grow their micro businesses into $million enterprises. Find us at www.countmein.org or call (212) 245-1245.

About OPEN from American Express

OPEN is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. The OPEN Team supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit http://www.OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a Card or loan.  Terms and conditions apply. American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

About QVC

QVC, Inc., a $6.5 billion company, is an e-commerce leader, marketing a wide variety of brand name products in such categories as home furnishings, licensed products, fashion, beauty, electronics and fine jewelry.  QVC reaches over 89 million homes in the United States.  Other divisions/subsidiaries include QVC.com, Q Records and Video, QVC @, QVC Local, QVC ProductWorks.  The QVC Studio Tour is located at the company’s world headquarters in West Chester, Pa. QVC is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Data source: US Census Bureau. Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners: Women-Owned Firms, 2002.  Published January 2006. (SB02-00CS-WMN). Prepared by Julie Weeks, President and CEO of Womenable, www.womenable.com.