Cornell Cooperative Extension to co-host MWBE info session on March 8 in Auburn

AUBURN, N.Y. — Women and minority business owners are invited to a free information session on New York State’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification program.

The event is set for this Friday, March 8 from 1–3:30 pm at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center at 25 South St. in Auburn.

The event is presented through a collaboration of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Harvest NY program, Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County, and Taste NY, a program of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets.

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The event will cover topics that include the process for how businesses can become certified New York State MWBE contractors, developing value-added products with the Cornell Food Venture Center (CFVC), and doing business with Taste NY.

A panel discussion will include Precious Tshabalala, food–systems specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Harvest NY, who will provide an overview of the MWBE program and answer questions about how MWBE businesses can benefit from certification.

In addition, the panelists include Ebony L. Hattoh, associate director for equity and justice at New Energy New York, who will share an MWBE success story.

Another panelist, Vicki Giarratano, is assistant director for food systems & innovation at Cornell Cooperative Extension. She’ll discuss TasteNY and how to sell value–added products through it.

The group also includes a representative from Cornell’s Food Venture Center in Geneva on how CFVC helps food businesses introduce new food products into the marketplace.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required to ensure adequate numbers of handouts for attendees. Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

Anyone with questions or seeking directions can contact Heather Ward, manager of theTaste NY Market at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, at hab27@cornell.edu or (607) 229-3650.