CSMS Message: 99-000192

THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTATION AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ON THE
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YEAR 2000 CONVERSION ARE FOCUSING ON HOW SMALL
BUSINESS CAN PREPARE FOR THE YEAR 2000 TRANSITION, DURING SMALL BUSINESS
Y2K ACTION WEEK, MARCH 29 - APRIL 2. DURING THE WEEK, SEMINARS AND
TRAINING EVENTS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES BECOME "Y2K OK" WILL BE HELD
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AMONG THE FEATURES WILL BE FREE, OR LOW COST, Y2K
ASSISTANCE NOW AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP OF THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

MORE AND MORE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE AWARE OF THE Y2K PROBLEM, BUT TOO MANY
STILL HAVE NOT TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE
YEAR 2000 TRANSITION. SMALL BUSINESS Y2K ACTION WEEK IS DESIGNED TO
(1) PERSUADE THESE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE NOT YET TAKEN ACTION ON THE
PROBLEM TO DO SO, AND (2) HELP THEM TO TAKE ACTION BY CONNECTING THEM
WITH AVAILABLE TOOLS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN SMALL BUSINESS Y2K ACTION WEEK. FIRST, EITHER
ALONE OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, YOU CAN CREATE OR
CO-SPONSOR EVENTS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE DEVELOPING AN AGENDA, CREATING AN
AUDIENCE, AND WORKING THE LOCAL MEDIA TO GENERATE PRESS COVERAGE. SECOND,
YOU CAN ASSIST IN GENERATING AWARENESS AND ATTENDANCE AT OTHER EVENTS
ALREADY PLANNED IN THE AREA. ALL EVENTS WILL BE COORDINATED AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. PLEASE SHARE THIS MEMO WITH YOUR LOCAL OFFICE STAFFS AND HAVE
THEM CONTACT THE LOCAL SBA OFFICE TO FIND OUT HOW THEY CAN HELP. TO
FIND OUT WHOM TO CONTACT IN EACH STATE, PLEASE CALL DAN HILL,
SBA'S ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR TECHNOLOGY AT 202 205-6451 OR
CALL 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722).