The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and the Seattle District Small Business Administration are presenting free bi-monthly business loan briefings for anyone interested in knowing how to get a loan to start, expand or buy a small business. The next session, from 1 to 2 p.m. March 16 at 809 Legion Way SE, Olympia, conducted by Carol Andersen from the Seattle SBA District Office. Topics covered include how the SBA loan program works, the eligibility and credit requirements, what lenders are looking for when approving loans, who can help you with a business plan or a loan proposal, what other financing options are available and  the enhancements to the SBA lending programs under the federal Recovery Act. Space is limited. For more information, call Tammy (360) 357-3362 or  Carol at (206) 553-7315.

Small businesses make up 90 percent of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership base. Join other small business owners to brainstorm and have open discussion about issues facing small businesses during the Small Business Committee meeting at noon March 16 at the Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar, near The Tacoma Mall. Lunch cost on your own. For more information or to RSVP, contact Judy Singley at (253) 627.2175.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is hosting Entrepreneur Corner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17 at the Simpson Community Room, 950 Pacific Ave., Suite 300. This panel discussion with Q&A for small businesses features presentations from Linda Jadwin of the South Sound Washington Business Center and John Rodenberg of the WSU Small Business Development Center. Their topic: "What Do You Really, Really Know About Your Business?" Pre-registration is required because space is limited. Contact Judy Singley or call (253) 627.2175 for more information.

The World Trade Center Tacoma and Washington State Department of Commerce invite you to meet with Washington State Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Representatives from 2:30 to 5 p.m. March 17 at the WTC Tacoma office, Simpson Conference Room, 950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 310. RSVP to Mariam Anderson or call (253) 396-1022. Click here for more information.

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