The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by College of the Canyons and the i3 Advanced Technology Incubator (ATI) will host the free conference, Health Insurance Solutions, for the first time this September. The main goal of the conference is for attendees to learn about the myriad of health insurance solutions available to small business owners. It will also provide an overview of the various ways small business owners may benefit from and/or be impacted by the recently enacted healthcare reform legislation.

It is part of an overall effort by the SBDC and ATI to provide current and future small business owners with all the tools and resources needed to be successful in today’s economic climate.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, September 17, in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, Room 258, located on the College of the Canyons Valencia campus.

“This conference is being organized in response to the numerous requests the SBDC and ATI have received from small business owners seeking help in demystifying this extremely complex topic,” said Steve Tannehill, SBDC director. “The ability for small business owners to provide health insurance for themselves, their families and their employees can be a critical component to their success.”

Featuring insights from small business owners and representatives from the healthcare, accounting and health insurance industries, the conference will be highlighted by a presentation from keynote speaker Bill Gil, president and CEO of the Facey Medical Foundation.

The event will also include a special informational presentation by the non-partisan organization Small Business Majority about the recently enacted Federal healthcare reform legislation.

Founded by small business owners, the Small Business Majority is based in the San Francisco Bay area and works to present an impartial view of the many issues that impact small businesses. In addition to working on strategies that promote entrepreneurship and small business growth, the organization’s recent focus has been dedicated to finding a solution to the skyrocketing health insurance costs small businesses have faced in recent years.

“We believe that by working with key partners like the Small Business Majority on this conference it will make for a more comprehensive event and help small business owners understand how to best take advantage of the many health insurance solutions available not only today, but going forward,” said Nina Grooms Lee, ATI interim director.

Following each presentation there will be a brief question and answer period designed to let attendees ask questions that might not have been addressed.

Admission to the conference is free, however attendees must register in order to attend. A light breakfast will be served.

Parking for this event is $2 and can be purchased on the day of the event from one of the automated kiosks located in the college’s parking lots 13, 14 and 15.

The SBDC/ATI conference Health Insurance Solutions is one of the many interactive workshops and conferences the SBDC offers each year in order to provide current and future small business owners, students and community members with access to the tools and resources needed to be successful in business.

This event is being hosted with assistance from SBDC business support partners including: Facey Medical Group, TriNet, the SCV Chamber of Commerce, the City of Santa Clarita, the Valley Industrial Association (VIA), L.A. Economic Development Corporation and the new SCV Economic Development Corporation.

For more information about the SBDC/ATI conference Health Insurance Solutions please call (661) 362-5900 or visit www.cocsbdc.org.

To register to attend this event, please email sbdc@canyons.edu.