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May 3, 2005 – Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett, Esq. of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Division of Environmental Protection's (DEP), Small Business Technical Assistance Program will celebrate Small Business Week May 12th & 16th thru the 20th, 2005.
In observance of the celebration, a week of activities has been scheduled for St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix. To Kick off the celebration, the Division of Environmental Protection will co-host the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, May 12, 2005, from 5:30PM to 7:30PM at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel.
Following the kick off event, a week of activities will begin on Monday, May 16, 2005. Planned activities include three (3) days of Field Displays and Information Distribution and two (2) free workshops for professionals in the automotive industry, specifically garage and auto repair shops.
Small Business Compliance Display and Information Distribution days are set for Monday, May 16 on St. John at the Band Stand, Wednesday, May 18 on St. Thomas at the Emancipation Garden and Friday, and May 20 on St. Croix at the Sunny Isles Shopping Center in Christiansted.
In addition, the workshops for garage and auto repair shops will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at the Palm Court Harbour View on St. Thomas and on Thursday, May 19 at Gertrude's Restaurant on St. Croix. Workshop topics include Hazardous Waste Storage and Permitting Requirements, Air Emission Requirements, Nonpoint Source Pollution impacts, as well as House Keeping and Waste Disposal discussions. To further assist garage and repair shop owners, two special guest speakers from the University of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center and the Industrial Development Commission will addresses workshop attendees.
Onsite registration for both locations is set for 8:00-8:30AM with each workshop scheduled to begin at 9AM. As a grand finale to the department's Small Business Week Celebration, the Division of Environmental Protection will also host a Business After-hours Event on Friday, May 20 at the Caravelle Hotel from 5:30 – 7:30PM.
Commissioner Plaskett said, "The Department's Small Business Technical Assistance program is here to help Small Businesses comply with environmental Rules and Regulations. While this year's workshops will focus on garage and auto repair shop, I would like to encourage the community to gather information from the Small Business Technical Assistance Program during the information distribution days. As for small business owners, I would most certainly encourage you to attend the Business After-hours events in both island districts to learn about environmental compliance statutes applicable to most if not all businesses," he concluded.
For more information about DPNR's Small Business Week or to pre-register for the free workshops, call 714-9529.
Quick Reference Activities List:
May 12, 2005: Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours – St. Thomas, Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel 5:30PM – 7:30PM
May 16, 2005: Small Business Compliance Display/Information, St. John – Band Stand Cruz Bay
May 17, 2005: FREE Workshop St. Thomas Garage and Auto Repair Shops, Palm Court Harbour View 9AM – 4PM
May 18, 2005: Small Business Compliance Display/Information St. Thomas – Emancipation Garden
May 19, 2005: FREE Workshop St. Croix
Garage and Auto Repair Shops Gertrude's Restaurant 9AM – 4PM
May 20, 2005: Small Business Compliance Display/Information St. Croix – Budhoe Park
May 20, 2005: Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours – St. Croix Caravelle Hotel 5:30PM – 7:30PM
