Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2006

BY LAND GRANT

Brooklyn’s small businesses are invited to learn how they can better incorporate the latest “smart” technology into their enterprises – and increase their competitive advantages – at the Small Business Technology Boot Camp scheduled for Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street, Downtown Brooklyn.

The daylong training event, presented by the nonprofit Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) and sponsored by Intel® Corporation, will focus on the practical need of small businesses for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).  The event addresses ICT requirements for businesses new to ICT as well as ICT-savvy companies with more advanced needs.  Two separate tracks will be offered – one for “Standard” and another for “Advanced” requirements – that include five immersion seminars and hands-on technology demonstrations.

Intel sponsors the Boot Camps, with Brooklyn being one of the 15 U.S. stops on the 2006 tour, to provide information on ICT solutions that small businesses can use to increase business effectiveness. Through such locally targeted education, Intel is working with small businesses to enrich the communities where small business lives and works.

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Member Land Grant, Land Grant + Company, attended the previous New York iteration of the Small Business Technology Boot Camp in Manhattan at the end of January. A daily blogger on small business technology issues, Mr. Grant reported enthusiastically on the event on his Weblog at http://www.landgrant.biz/.  Through his Intel contacts from the event, he encouraged Intel to sponsor Brooklyn as a Boot Camp venue for New York.

“Since I blog about tech for urban small business, particularly from my Brooklyn vantage, I could see what a powerful program the Intel Boot Camp truly is,” said Mr. Grant.  “This kind of very-professional, pump-priming tech event is exactly what Brooklyn small businesses need to get the strategic overview, the tactical how-to and the excitement of doable digital solutions.”

“Our borough statistics are pretty compelling, particularly for an event that targets small business,” said Mark Kessler, the Chamber’s Vice President of Member Services, who worked with Mr. Grant on bringing the event to Brooklyn. “After all, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is focused on the needs of small business and we are very interested to bring more information and communication technology assets and resources to our Members and the wider Brooklyn community we all live in and serve.  Today’s ICT levels the playing field for small business and that’s why we hope to generate a large and enthusiastic audience for the borough’s first Intel Boot Camp in November.”

The Brooklyn Boot Camp’s $20 attendance fee – for all training sessions, instructional materials, breakfast and lunch – is reduced to only $15 for Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Members.  Brooklyn Chamber Members may register for this event at the special reduced rate by visiting the Chamber’s event calendar at ibrooklyn.com.  Other businesses may also visit the Chamber’s Web site or register directly at www.sbtechnologyinstitute.org/bootcamp/register.php, or call 408-494-0212.