By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
June 23, 2003

The second edition of the Partner America Best Small Business Practices was released during the Small Business/Partner America Task Force Meeting at the 71st Annual Conference of Mayors in Denver. The objective of the Best Small Business Practices collection is to recognize Mayors from across the country for city initiatives and programs, which raise the visibility of small business and provide a user-friendly program offering small businesses access to information and resources.

During Sunday's Plenary Session, Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, Co-Chair of the Small Business/Partner America Task Force, gave all mayors a preview of the Best Practices collection and explained why small business is such a vital part of every community. Malloy added "From Boston, Massachusetts to West Hollywood, California, mayors submitted various program highlighting their efforts supporting small business in areas of recruitment and retention, education and support services, arts and entertainment initiatives and local loan and grant programs."

Twenty-eight mayors are featured in the Best Small Business Practices directory: Mayor James Thalman of Chinos Hills (CA), Mayor Sandy Decker of Los Gatos (CA), Mayor Jeffrey Prang of West Hollywood (CA), Mayor Dannel Malloy of Stamford (CT), Mayor Thomas Bussing of Gainsville (FL), Mayor Manuel Diaz of Miami (FL), Mayor William Mischler of Pinellas Park (FL), Mayor Bob Young of Augusta (GA), Mayor Paul Pate of Ceadr Rapdis (IA), Mayor Arlene Mulder of Arlington Heights (IL), Mayor Duane Dedelow of Hammond (IN), Mayor Teresa Isaac of Lexington (KY), Mayor Jerry Abramson of Louisville (KY), Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston (MA), Mayor Dean Mazzarella of Leominster (MA), Tony Benavides of Lansing (MI), Mayor Brenda Lawrence of Southfield (MI), Mayor Kay Barnes of Kansas City (MO), Mayor Larry Delgado of Santa Fe (NM), Mayor Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas (NV), Mayor Irene Elia of Niagra Falls (NY), Mayor Don Plusquellic of Akron (OH), Mayor James Doyle of Pawtucket (RI), Mayor Bill Purcell of Nashville (TN), Mayor Evelyn Lordof Beaumont (TX), Mayor Elizabeth Flores of Laredo (TX), Mayor Ed Garza of San Antonio (TX), and Mayor Rosemarie Ives of Redmond (WA).

"We are very pleased to have such a positive response from mayors across the country and to be able to highlight the programs that these cities have created to foster growth in their small business communities," stated George A. Cloutier, Partner Americaä chairman and American Management Services chairman and CEO.

Malloy and Co-Chair Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes officially released the Best Small Business Practices at the Task Force Meeting and asked the Mayors in attendance, whose programs are featured, to share some insight into their small business growth programs. Partner America will highlight each Mayor and city program, which were discussed during the Task Force meeting, in upcoming issues of U.S.Mayor.

If you would like to read about the programs featured in the Best Small Business Practices, visit the Partner America web site at www.partneramerica.com or contact Jeff Bean, Managing Director at 781-487-0461 or jbean@usmayors.org to request a copy.