PITTSBURGH, Sept. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Building Bridges for Business – a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and educating Pittsburgh's small business owners – is expecting another sold-out event on October 9 between 4:00 and 8:00 pm EDT at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. For Sale: Opportunity, a franchising event, will connect established national franchisers and potential franchisees, and will also feature lenders providing on-the-spot funding, 401k funding experts, and local commercial real estate firms to find space and locations for new businesses. Interested participants can register on Building Bridges for Business' website (www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org).
The event will feature over 30 exhibitors, including nationally and regionally based franchises and lenders. Business opportunities at different investment points and in several verticals are participating. Featured exhibitors include HandyPro, Sports Clips, Vanguard Cleaning, Veterans Taxi, Benetrends, FranNet and Giant Eagle.
"Franchises have long been an important component in the structure of American business," said Linda Handley, founder, Building Bridges for Business. "According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), over the first five years, four out of five franchises succeed, whereas only one out of five independent small businesses succeeds." Franchises in the United States provide over 9.8 million jobs with a payroll of over $229 billion, according to the IFA.
In addition to franchise exhibitors, the region's top Small Business Administration (SBA) banks and lenders, Sue Malone, founder, Strategies for Small Business, will be providing on-the-spot funding and loan applications for attendees.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will deliver a welcome message discussing the current state of locally owned small businesses. "Rich's passion for small business development and sustainability in Allegheny County has been unprecedented," said Amanda Wodzenski, president, Building Bridges for Business. "We are excited to hear him speak and know he will provide attendees with insights, information and resources from a governmental perspective."
Partners for For Sale: Opportunity include, the Allegheny County Executive's Office, the City of Pittsburgh, the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University and the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University. Major sponsors are Positively Pittsburgh Live, Brunnhuber and Associates, Comcast Business Class, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Staples, Giant Eagle, Pittsburgh Business Times and Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association. Follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridgesforbiz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business via email at info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.
ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES FOR BUSINESS
Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Building Bridges for Business 501 (c)(3) aims at empowering and educating the region's small business leaders by providing resources to start, manage, grow and promote their businesses. Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted sold-out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's adviser from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Coffee With™, an online film series featuring business experts.