The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces it is holding a public meeting in Chicago, Illinois on the proposed changes to the 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program Regulations and Small Business Size Regulations.  Testimony and   comments presented at the public comment meetings will become part of the administrative record as comments addressing the proposed changes.

The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Prospective participants must pre-register for the session on or before Friday, January 15, 2010.

Send pre-registration requests to attend and/or testify to Ms. Latrice Andrews, SBA’s Office of Business Development at   Latrice.Andrews@sba.gov, telephone number (202) 205-5852, or by facsimile to (202) 481-4042.  Please include the following information relating to the person testifying:  Name, Organization affiliation, Address, Telephone number, E-mail address, and Fax number.  For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meetings, contact Ms. Latrice Andrews.

The public meeting will be conducted at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois District Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1150, in Conference Rooms A & B.

For security purposes the Visitor’s Center at 500 West Madison requires that the names of all registrants and SBA employees who are not members of the Illinois District Office staff be submitted to them prior to the meeting.  Also, attendees must have a valid State ID/Driver’s License to present upon arrival to gain access to the building.

The public meeting will consist of a panel of SBA representatives who will preside over the session.  The oral and written testimony will become part of the administrative record for SBA’s consideration.  Written testimony may be submitted in lieu of oral testimony.  SBA officials may ask questions of a presenter to clarify or further explain the testimony.  The purpose of the public meetings is to allow the general public to comment on SBA’s proposed rulemaking.  SBA requests that the comments focus on the proposed changes.  SBA also requests that commentators do not raise their testimony.  SBA will accept written material that the presenter wishes to provide that further supplements his or her testimony.  Electronic or digitized copies are encouraged.

For more information on Joliet Junior College's Small Business Development Center, contact us at sbdc@jjc.edu or (815) 280-1400.