Washington Policy Center's 2005 Eastern Washington Small Business Conference, presented with Verizon, Association of Washington Business, National Federation of Independent Business, Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce, Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, Tri City Industrial Development Council, Yakima Chamber of Commerce, the Independent Business Association and over 40 other organizations will be held Thursday, November 10th at the Three Rivers Convention Center from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The Conference will be an opportunity for small business owners from across the state to offer their solutions to the state's most pressing business climate problems. Attendees will participate in several workshops tackling issues such as the rising cost of health care, unemployment insurance, energy, water, tax reform and workers' compensation.

In 2003, over 350 small business owners, policymakers and media attended the Statewide Small Business Conference in Seattle. The recommendations from that Conference were turned into "An Agenda for Reform," a study that was released in a bi-partisan press conference in the state capitol.

The Conference will also feature panel discussions with many of the heads of state agencies, whose rules and regulations interact and affect the business climate. 

Near the conclusion of the Conference, results from the breakout sessions will be released and those recommendations will be summarized and released to the state legislature in early January 2006.

The cost of attending the Conference is $45 and includes breakfast, lunch, all sessions, and conference material. A lunch-only option is $30. There is no charge for media to attend.