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Page October 13, 2007State & Local Newswww.ladatanews.comAllan Houston/Citigroup Business Education and DevelopmentProgram Seeks New Groups of Aspiring Entrepreneurs in New OrleansThe Allan Houston LegacyFoundation, Citigroup / Smith-Barney and Lenovo have partneredtogether with the NationalFoundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship(NFTE) and the HarlemYMCA, with additional supportfrom the Greater HarlemChamber of Commerce, to bringone of the most comprehensiveand progressive young entrepreneurshipprograms in the countryto Harlem, NY and New Orleans,LA.Designed specifically for youngadults aged 18 to 25, the AllanHouston / Citigroup BusinessEducation and Development Programis a free twenty-four weekintensive training program thatconsists of twice-weekly eveningcourses at the Harlem YMCA inNew York City and the DryadesYMCA in New Orleans. Up tofifty applicants are selected inNew York and up to twenty-five inNew Orleans. The objective is todevelop knowledgeable and enterprise-readyentrepreneurs withinthese communities. Each participantis given the tools, resourcesand guidance needed to build asuccessful business plan.At the conclusion of the educationaland instruction stage, twoentrepreneurs are chosen to enterthe Allan Houston / Lenovo SmallBusiness Incubator to receive anadditional year of support includingfree office space, a team of advisorsto help guide the implementationof their Business Plans, andup to $20,000 in start-up capital.Through the incubation process,these entrepreneurs will receivethe resources they need to buildsustainable businesses with lastingeconomic benefit to their families,neighborhoods and largercommunities.With the recent devastating destructionof Hurricane Katrina inNew Orleans and the strong needfor career, technical, and vocationalprograms in New York City, AllanHouston / Citigroup BusinessEducation and Development Programoffers positive alternativesfor personal and community empowermentthrough a unique collaborationof celebrity, civic andcorporate giving.“One of the ways we hope to assistin the New Orleans recoveryeffort is to support the re-establishmentof an economic structureby helping the citizens start theirown businesses. The program isdesigned to empower the communityand provided them withtools to create that structure. Tome, that’s powerful.” said AllanHouston.“The long term benefits of thistype of educational program isphenomenal and long overdue.Not only will it tremendously impactand develop the future leadersof New Orleans but it will alsohelp revitalize the economic opportunitiesin the New Orleanscommunity by creating entrepreneurswhile attracting large businessesback to thecity,” said Diana Beasley, ExecutiveDirector - “The New OrleansJourney Home Center” City ofNew Orleans, Mayor C. Ray NaginOffice.“The opportunity for Citigroup/Smith Barney to support this programbuilds upon our leadershipin bringing financial education,business and life skills to underservedpopulations. We are excitedto expand our successful relationshipsin this field to includeAllan Houston and each of thepartners in support of this veryworthy cause,” said Mindy Ross,Managing Director of Smith Barney’sCommunity Investment andFinancial Education Programs.This summer Allan Houstonand Citigroup welcomed Lenovoas a new partner. As the thirdlargest PC maker in the world,Lenovo has dedicated itself to supportingthe launch of 10,000 newbusinesses around the world overthe next ten years.