The White House conducts its Conference on Small Business to provide business people the opportunity to give their input and ideas on business-related topics. Through regional conferences, small business owners and entrepreneurs develop ideas to promote small business success as well as electing delegates to present these ideas to the President and Congress at the National Conference.

Recommendations from two previous national conferences, held in 1980 and 1986, led to the Regulatory Flexibility, Equal Access to Justice, and Minority Business Opportunity Reform acts. About half of the recommendations produced at these conferences have been acted upon by the legislative or executive branches of government.

To be eligible, an individual must be an owner, corporate officer, or employee of a for-profit business employing fewer than 500 people, and must personally reside in the state in which the conference takes place. If an individual does not meet these qualifications, then he or she may attend the conference as a non-participating observer.

For further information, contact The White House Conference on Small Business, 1800 G Street, NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: (202) 724-0891.