Please use this forum space to discuss the May 8 webinar on effective mentor-protege programs.  Feel free to discuss your mentor-protege program or to question other participants.

You should be able to download the webinar presentations from http://www.insightcced.org/index.php?page=may-8-webinar .  We also plan to record the webinar and hope to make that available.

Here are some links to state mentor protege programs:
Florida - http://osdinfo.dms.state.fl.us/mentor.htm
Georgia - http://www.georgia.org/Business/SmallBusiness/mentor_protege.htm
Massachusetts - http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=osdterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Buy+from+a+Contract&L2=Opportunities+for+Minority%2fWomen+Owned+Businesses&sid=Aosd&b=terminalcontent&f=osd_es_mwbe_ampservices&csid=Aosd
North Carolina - http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hub/menpro.doc
Ohio - http://das.ohio.gov/Eod/edge/MentorProtegeApplications.htm
Texas - http://www.window.state.tx.us/procurement/prog/hub/mentorprotege/
CALTRANS - http://dot.ca.gov/dist4/calmentor/
IDOT - http://www.dot.state.il.us/obwd/mentor.html
Minnesota DOT - http://www.dot.state.mn.us/eeocm/dbespecialprograms.html
Ohio DOT - http://dot.state.oh.us/CONTRACT/dbe_ss_info.htm
TxDOT - http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/business_opportunity_programs/mentor_protege.htm

Results of the Webinar Poll - Future Topics

65% of respondents would like to hear about M/WBE Loan and Financing Programs
40% - Supplier diversity program design in budget strapped states
38% - Designing and utilizing disparity studies
38% - Supplier diversity design in race/gender neutral policy environments (Prop 209 in CA and Initiative 200 in WA)
33% - Certification and electronic vendor registration

Other responses include:
- Ensuring continued M/WBE participation in projects in light of economic downturn
- Bonding issues for M/WBE firms
- Streamlining certification applications
- Efficacies of various models for entrepreneurship training
- Innovative business financing models beyond microlending