Chicago's First Women's Economic Development Outreach Tour Begins in Cook County on Monday, October 4 Women business owners have the opportunity for free assistance CHICAGO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In an effort to highlight and continue the phenomenal growth of women-owned businesses, the Chicagoland Women's Economic Development Outreach (WEDO) Tour plans an unprecedented weeklong tour encompassing ten counties in Chicagoland. For the first time in Illinois, a dynamic group of women leaders, comprised of business owners, local, state and federal representatives, bank officials, economic development organizations and other women-focused organizations will stop at five sites between October 4 - 6, 2004 supplying information and resources to Chicago area women business owners. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/NATIONALCITYLOGO ) Registration for each day begins at 8:00 a.m. with a complimentary Power Breakfast and runs from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Women business owners are encouraged to visit http://www.e-magnify.com/ for a complete schedule of events and to register online or contact a National City women business advocate closest to their area. Reservations for all WEDO programs are free and limited to the first 150 participants. MEDIA: The kick-off will be held in Chicago at the State of Illinois Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Drive, at 8:30 a.m. Media is invited to attend anytime throughout the day at any of the sites. The tour officially kicks off in Cook County and continues throughout the counties surrounding Chicago and down to McHenry offering participants an in- depth look at effective marketing research, sales strategies, business financing, access to capital; information on certification on that state and federal level as well as private certification; and e-commerce solutions. There is also an opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with Best Buy and Geek Squad to gain information on the benefits of wireless technology to improve office infrastructure efficiencies. Monday, October 4 - Cook County Location: Chicago, State of Illinois Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Tuesday, October 5 - Kane, DeKalb, DuPage & Kendall Counties Location: Glen Ellyn, College of DuPage, K Building Wednesday, October 6 - Lake and McHenry Counties Location: Grayslake, College of Lake County Visit http://www.e-magnify.com/ for directions to the WEDO sites. "National City is proud to be the exclusive lead sponsor of WEDO," said Beth Blom, National City vice president of small business banking and Chicagoland WEDO chairperson. "Through the unique collaboration of partners in WEDO, and our bank's partnerships with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity/Small Business Development Center, ATHENA Foundation, Women's Business Development Center, Seton Hill University's National Education Center for Women in Business, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka Office, National City is sending a clear message to women entrepreneurs that we are committed to meeting all their business needs." "The concept of bringing the resource partners to local women during a blitz through Chicagoland is a dynamic way to jump start our economy and provide a catalyst to grow women owned business," said Blom. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/NATIONALCITYLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: National City Corporation CONTACT: Beth Blom, Vice President, National City and WEDO Chairperson, +1-312-384-4683, or ; or Linda L. Stevenson, Vice President-Director, National City Women's Business Initiative, +1-814-871-1225, or mobile, +1-814-504-6362, or Web site: http://www.nationalcity.com/ http://www.e-magnify.com/

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