MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series receives endorsement of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

MillerCoors celebrates the 10th anniversary of its signature, national business plan competition, the MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES). The award-winning program, which debuted in 1999, provides training and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs, in both starting and maintaining a successful business, while offering a unique opportunity for young entrepreneurs to compete for substantial business grants. In commemoration of a decade of entrepreneurial empowerment, this year’s MUES Business Plan Competition grand prize has been increased to $100,000, double the previous year’s $50,000 grant. 

“Over the past ten years, the MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES) has been honored to host a program that provides invaluable resources enabling entrepreneurs to turn their aspirations into achievement,” said Larry Waters, director of multicultural relations for MillerCoors. “We have a long established commitment to the many communities that we serve, and the MUES Business Plan Competition is an ideal way to ensure their continued economic development and advancement by educating and inspiring young professionals in the pursuit of their business goals,” he adds.

The program is not without noteworthy community advocacy and support. And, for the second consecutive year, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has endorsed MUES in an effort to encourage more Hispanics to take advantage of the opportunity. “Through our network of more than 200 member chambers and organizations, it is our desire to help share the availability of this much-needed resource, in the hope of spurring greater participation,” states Augustine Martinez, president and CEO of the USHCC. “Given the current economic climate, it is vital that small businesses in our communities seek non-traditional means of establishing and infusing their businesses with capital. We commend MillerCoors for actively engaging in the empowerment of this next generation of business leaders, and we’re proud to be a partner in the program’s success.”

Waters notes that MUES has re-launched its interactive website, www.millercoorsmues.com, the resource for everything MUES-related, from Webinar registration, to accessing an application and submitting a business plan to the competition. Continuing its commitment to social responsibility, MUES has moved to a paperless, electronic business plan entry submission format through the website. Additionally, the site permits tomorrow’s entrepreneurs to query notable business leaders, to gain invaluable insight from previous winners through their blogs on MUES Talk and access behind-the-scenes competition activity via MUES-TV. Web users can also use the site to get an inside look at the competition, including the oral interview process and judges’ backgrounds, while perusing relevant business and entrepreneurial articles. 
   
“Economic empowerment and entrepreneurial advancement are crucial to the coming generations, and they’re especially essential in multicultural communities where such opportunities are not as available,” said Jose Ruano, manager, multicultural relations, MillerCoors. “Programs like MUES are rare, but imperative, as the demographics of the U.S. continue to diversify to include more communities of color. As we commemorate ten years of success with MUES, we found it only fitting to raise the stakes to a $100,000 business grant for the top winner, along with four additional grants of $25,000.”
 
The 2009 MUES ePowerLunch Webinar Series featured one-hour expert discussion on various business topics including:
   
— Putting a Brilliant Idea to Paper – Developing a Workable Business Plan

— Do the Math – Understanding the Financials
   
— Inc. vs LLC – Choosing the Right Legal Structure
   
— Starting a Business in Tough Economic Times
   
— Knowledge is Power – Knowing and Communicating Your Niche
   
— Tech Your Biz – The New Face of Marketing using Web 2.0 tools
 
Webinars are available as downloadable podcasts via the MUES website.
 
For more information at http://www.millercoorsmues.com