The City of Knoxville is partnering with the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, SunTrust Bank and Pellissippi State Community College to offer its 4th Annual Small Business Conference on Wednesday, March 10.

The free "Marketing Boot Camp" conference is set for 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Pellissippi's Magnolia Avenue Campus (1610 East Magnolia Avenue) and is the first of a two-part series on marketing for small businesses.

Part I of "Marketing Boot Camp" is an interactive seminar that will focus on strategic planning including examining the strengths, weaknesses, target audience and goals of a business. The session also includes a marketing education session and a "Your Marketing Materials" critique.

Participants are encouraged to bring any and/or all advertising materials they have used to promote their businesses to this marketing workshop.

The conference is part of an ongoing series of free events offered by the City of Knoxville's Community Relations Office aimed at helping small business owners and budding entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to make it in a tough economic climate and identify opportunities with government agencies among other things.

Past conferences have included sessions on developing business plans, learning about financing options and learning about opportunities to do business with the federal government and how to take advantage of them among other topics.

"These conferences are generally designed for start-up ventures and existing small businesses," said Joshalyn Hundley, the city's Equal Business Opportunity Program Coordinator, "and we try to present the programs in a business casual, relaxed atmosphere." 

"We want to provide information that companies can use to be more successful and we want everyone to take something away from this that helps their business," Hundley added.

For more information about the conference please contact Joshalyn Hundley at 865-215-3867 or [email protected] or Jane Shelton at 865-246-2663 or [email protected].

The 4th Annual City of Knoxville Free Small Business Conference begins with a free continental breakfast and registration is recommended but not required.

Pellissippi State's Magnolia Campus is located at 1610 East Magnolia Avenue.

There is no CEU credit for this conference.