Washington, DC - The DC Office of Banking and Financial Institutions and (OBFI) in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the District Office of BB&T is delighted to bring the "Accessing Capital" - Strategic Conference to the District of Columbia to promote small business expansion in the District of Columbia in support of the Mayor's initiative to increase economic development opportunities in our neighborhoods.

This conference is designed to strengthen the network for small business owners by increasing the availability of loans to them. "The nurturing and expansion of small business is the cornerstone of the region's economic vitality. We are bringing together all of the key players that are essential to growing and developing our small business community," said S. Kathryn Allen, Superintendent, D. C. Office of Banking and Financial Institutions.

"I'm pleased that we're coming together as a community to guarantee that there will be more small businesses in the District of Columbia," said Mayor Anthony A. Williams. "I am committed to supporting these businesses because they are critical to the fiscal health of our economy."

The Office of Banking and Financial Institutions (OBFI) regulates and promotes a climate in which financial institutions can organize to do business in the District of Columbia, contribute to the economic development of the District through the increased availability of capital and credit, and to expand advantageous financial services to the public in a nondiscriminatory manner.