Thousands of small business owners, Veterans, military personnel and federal employees will attend the federal government’s premier national event for veteran-owned small business in New Orleans in August 2011.

“Not only did New Orleans meet our conference needs,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, “It allows us to draw attention to a region that is successfully recovering from one of the worst natural disasters in our country’s history.”

The seventh annual National Veterans Small Business Conference and Exposition will be held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center August 15-18, 2011. In 2011, VA replaces the U.S. Army as the principal conference sponsor.

Attendance has grown about 32 percent a year since its inception. In 2010, more than 3,300 people attended, well beyond the 2,600 expected. Half of the attendees at the 2010 conference were Veterans who owned small businesses. Other attendees included Veterans contemplating opening their own businesses and firms that wanted to do business with Veteran business owners.

New Orleans offers hotel accommodations ranging from luxury suites to inexpensive rooms for budget-conscious small-business owners, with accommodations for attendees who are disabled.

Visit www.va.gov/osdbu and check back frequently for new details.

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