Solar Business Plan Writing Seminar to Create Green Collar Jobs in Arizona

PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - May 11, 2009) - The Arizona Solar Society (www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/) announced plans today to host a free solar business plan writing workshop presented by the professional business planning counselors at SCORE (www.scorephoenix.org), a resource partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The free 2-hour "Writing a Startup Business Plan to Take Your Solar Business to the Next Level!" seminar will be held at the Western International University located at 9215 N Black Canyon Hwy. in Phoenix from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 14th.

After the presentation, every attendee will have a chance to set up their own private meeting with a Greater Phoenix SCORE Business Counselor to receive free advice on how to write or edit rough draft solar business plans. There is no limit on the amount of time that attendees can spend with counselors and every session is completely free.

The business planning event will teach unemployed workers, graduating students, business executives and entrepreneurs how to write a solid business plan, then launch a solar energy business and do their part to create more green collar jobs in Arizona. Attendees are encouraged to download a free copy of the Arizona Solar Handbook, Buyer's Guide and Business Directory from:

http://www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/pages/Arizona_Solar_Buyers_Guide_and_Business_Directory/

"One thing we quickly recognized from our last four solar business conferences is that there is a tremendous pent up demand for solar training courses and business planning services from unemployed real estate, electrical/plumbing contractors, construction workers, sales/marketing, engineers, and finance personnel who want to make the transition to a career in the solar industry," said Robert Hoskins, from Arizona Solar Society.

"Unfortunately, until we began our training courses, there were absolutely no solar training programs available in Arizona," Hoskins continued. "To meet this need, we quickly teamed up with business planning experts at SCORE and the SBA."

"SCORE's free 2-hour presentation will detail a step-by-step process that the solar association's members can use to write a successful business plan and show them where to apply for sources of funding," said Maryanne Weiss, a professional SCORE business counselor.

Weiss added, "The one-on-one workshops are very good for brand new startup companies, but are also very beneficial for existing solar businesses and vendors that want to increase their company's sales and marketing efforts in order to take their business to the next level."

The biggest hurdle for any small business is startup capital. To finance their small businesses, SCORE and the SBA will show participants how to take advantage of new rules that make it much easier to qualify for Microloans, 7(a) and/or 504 small business loans.

In addition to the solar business plan writing seminar, the Arizona Solar Society also is planning an Arizona Solar Technology Conference on May 30th at 9:00 am. The event will allow consumers to learn more about solar technology and how it works from free presentations and 20-30 exhibit booths where solar installation companies will be on hand to answer questions about solar installations, rebate programs, energy savings and to set up free quotes. More information on solar technology is at: http://www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/calendar/10102293/

Contact Information: Contact: Robert Hoskins Arizona Solar Society Phone: (602) 326-0940 Email: