MIAMI, FL – The City of Miami announced today it has proclaimed September 26 – October 3, 2003 “Hispanic Small Business Week” in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. As part of this effort, Office Depot will offer a series of free educational seminars targeted to Hispanic small business owners. Entitled, “Tu negocio, tu dinero,” (Your business, your money) and developed by Florida Atlantic University’s Small Business Center (FAU’s SBDC), the seminars will be held at Office Depot’s flagship store at 2690 Coral Way. Experts specializing in small business financing, business plan development and the basic principles of accounting will conduct courses in Spanish beginning on Monday, September 29 and continuing through Thursday, October 2.

“Hispanic small businesses are an extraordinarily important market in the U.S. Recognizing the great importance of this segment to the economy of the city and nationwide, it is our desire to empower Hispanic small business owners with the tools necessary to expand and succeed in today’s increasingly complex business environment,” said City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

As part of its commitment to the Hispanic community, South Florida-based Office Depot and FAU’s SBDC have offered more than 350 seminars, as well as actively participated in numerous conferences, matchmaking events, workshops and trade shows reaching nearly 5,000 individual business owners and entrepreneurs this year.

“Office Depot strives to provide the resources Hispanic small business owners need to transform their visionary dreams into marketplace realities. We understand that in order to grow, small businesses need exposure as well as cutting-edge resources and support,” said Ruth Cyrus, Office Depot Director of Small Business and Multicultural Marketing. “We are committed to empowering this culturally rich and diverse sector through a variety of outreach programs.

As part of the activities scheduled during “Hispanic Small Business Week,” Latina financial guru, Julie Stav held a one-hour, financial advice program in Spanish at Office Depot’s Coral Way location on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00 a.m. The program will air live on HBC stations across the country.

Since 1979 Stav has been educating and empowering thousands of Hispanic business owners by offering hundreds of financial planning seminars. Her ongoing PBS programs and television guest appearances strive to educate her audience to take control of their own destiny, plan their finances and invest wisely.

The City of Miami and Office Depot recognize the importance of providing ideas and solutions to help Hispanic small businessmen and women run their businesses successfully. With an estimated 2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States generating about $300 million in sales every year, the Hispanic market is a significant force in contributing to the United States economy. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States is expected to increase to 8 million within the next ten years.

Information about “Hispanic Small Business Week”:

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of nearly $15 billion, and employs approximately 50,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.

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