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St. Louis Business & Technology News
www.slfp.com/SLFPBIZp.htm "When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. 
St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com 
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Minority and Women Business Ownership Lead in Growth WASHINGTON, (PRNewswire) July 31, 2005 - The U.S. Census Bureau has released preliminary estimates from its 2002 Survey of Business Owners, indicating that minority groups and women are increasing business ownership at a much faster rate than the national average. Overwhelming increases in minority business ownership parallel the demand for SBA loan products in these communities. The SBA's flagship 7(a) loan program has registered sharp increases in loans to women and minority-owned businesses during the first three quarters of FY 2005. Loans to minorities have increased by 27 percent, compared to the same period in FY 2004, and loans to women have shown an increase of almost 50 percent, followed closely by loans to African-American business owners, which are up 46 percent. SBA loans to start-up companies have increased by 76 percent over last year. "These newly released census estimates and our own loan figures validate what I see in the communities I've visited all across the country," said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "Minority and women entrepreneurs are leading the way in business growth and are making important contributions to our nation's economic strength. This impressive growth in business ownership, and the clear-cut benefits that result from it, is what President Bush refers to when he talks about the ownership society." Heineken USA To Use Latest Technology To Prevent Underage Drinking WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (PRNewswire) July 31, 2005 - Heineken USA and Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC) have announced an agreement under which PDC will provide its AgeBand(TM) Electronic Age/ID Verification Wristband System for a series of use at a number of Heineken-sponsored concerts this year. Heineken USA is the first alcohol beverage company to use the AgeBand(TM) technology for a series of concert series events. "We chose to work with PDC because their AgeBand(TM) technology is state-of-the art, and we will accept nothing less in our efforts to prevent underage consumption," said Dan Tearno, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Heineken USA. "Heineken USA is committed to promoting the responsible consumption, marketing and sale of our products, and for those under 21 years of age, that means no purchase or consumption of alcohol beverages. AgeBand(TM) will help us ensure that anyone enjoying a Heineken-sponsored event is of legal drinking age." PDC's AgeBand(TM) Electronic Age/ID Verification Wristband System collects, verifies and prints driver's license and other authorized ID card information directly on patrons' wristbands to provide maximum protection against underage drinking. The system verifies the authenticity of driver's licenses and other IDs using special software developed in conjunction with the departments of Motor Vehicles' credential testing labs. The system scans the magnetic stripe or 2-dimensional bar code of an ID and instantly prints an AgeBand Wristband with pertinent patron information including, "Age ID Verified 21." "The beauty of AgeBand is that it deters patrons planning to use fake IDs before they even try to enter an event that is restricted to those 21 and over. But if they take the risk, they face the power of a technology that is extremely accurate and reliable in catching them," said Victor LaRosa, PDC Radio Frequency ID and Age ID Manager. "AgeBand is an effective and easy-to-use system that practically eliminates the risk of allowing access to an event where alcohol beverages are served to an underage person to purchase and consume alcohol beverages at public events, such as concerts. We are pleased to be working with Heineken USA, a company that has with this initiative underscored its commitment to being a leader in promoting responsible consumption and to fighting underage drinking." Heineken USA used PDC's AgeBand(TM) Electronic Age/ID Verification Wristband System at Street Scene in San Diego, July 29-30 and at AmsterJam, August 20-21 in New York City (a 21 and older event). More than 100,000 are expected to attend Street Scene, where PDC will assist Heineken USA by providing its own employees to deploy AgeBand; more than 30,000 attendees are expected at AmsterJam. Heineken USA is currently considering the use of AgeBand technology at its other sponsored events. Return to St. Louis Front Page  
The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group . |
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