Baltimore small businesses get boost from IT program - tech briefs - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, July 3, 2003 by Ronald Roach

BALTIMORE

Baltimore's Small Business Resource Center (SBRC), in association with Hewlett-Packard (HP) and the University of Baltimore, launched the Small Business Development Institute (SBDI), which is part of HP's Digital Village program.

Fifteen small businesses selected by the SBDI will receive an HP Small Business Productivity solution, which includes a notebook PC and docking station, a monitor, a personal digital assistant and an all-in-one printer.

The businesses will participate in a 12-week training course with the University of Baltimore to earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship.

"Our partnership with the SBRC will help provide entrepreneurs with technology solutions and business education to compete successfully in the digital economy," says Janiece Evans-Page, director of e-inclusion and global solutions, HP Philanthropy and Education.

The Baltimore Digital Village is part of a growing global network of communities HP partners with as part of its e-inclusion program, seeking to provide people access to greater social and economic opportunities by closing the gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities.