5/31/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Katherine Cota-Uyar, program manager, UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, (319) 273-7350

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

JPEC/SBDC/KBBG Minority Business Plan Competition winners announced, receive seed grants

Note to editors/news directors: 200 dpi JPEG images of the winners are available at:

http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/minbusplanwinners2002.JPG

            CEDAR FALLS, IOWA -- BaHar Publishing, owned by Patricia Harris and Cheryl Banks Ferguson, won the Minority Business Plan Competition for 2002 and received $5,000 of seed capital.  Tanica Washington of B.L.A.C.K. INK was awarded honorable mention and received $2,000 of seed capital.  The competition was sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, UNI Small Business Development Center and KBBG-FM.

            The awards were presented at the KBBG-FM 25^th Annual Banquet on May 11 by Katherine Cota-Uyar, program manager of UNI's JPEC.

            BaHar Publishing will publish a monthly newsletter featuring news and articles of interest to the African-American community in Northeast Iowa.  BaHar also will publish books, public relations materials, mailings and other materials needed by small businesses.

            B.L.A.C.K. INK is a bookstore, featuring works by African-American authors, in downtown Waterloo.

            The Minority Business Plan Competition promotes and supports the development of minority businesses in the Cedar Valley.  Nine plans were entered into this first year of the competition.

            Cota-Uyar said JPEC's primary goal is to assist student entrepreneurs in launching new firms or expanding current businesses.  The center offers seed capital to qualifying student and non-student firms, and provides a variety of educational program opportunities.  Consultative services are provided in cooperation with UNI's Small Business Development Center/Regional Business Center.  The JPEC is funded by a gift from Des Moines businessman John Pappajohn and his wife, Mary.

            For more information, call (319) 273-7350 or go to its Web site at <www.jpec.org>.

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5/31/02

 

News Brief

Following is a story lead and the University of Northern Iowa sources who can best address this topic. Feel free to contact the sources directly.

UNI hosts science day camp for Logan Middle School

Twenty-four students from Waterloo's Logan Middle School will participate in the UNI College of Natural Science Iowa Lakes Water Quality Study, Monday-Friday, June 3-7. Through this project, UNI's teaching students to develop new activities for science teachers, and pilot their methods with the Logan students.

Leslie Jones, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, says studies show Iowa has some of the worst surface water in the country. "Through this project we're hoping to increase the students' awareness of environmental issues, and encourage all Iowans to take responsibility for the ways our land use impacts water quality."

The students will be in UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education Monday and Friday, at George Wyth Lake Tuesday, at Delhi's Silver Lake on Wednesday, and at Casey Lake in Hickory Hills Park Thursday.

Contact:

Leslie Jones, assistant professor, Department of Biology, (319) 273-7153 or (319) 266-7125

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761