APTOS–For the third year running, Cabrillo College’s Aptos Campus was once again host to the Micro Business Summit, the largest small business event in Santa Cruz County.
Around 200 businesses were represented on Friday at the Erica Shilling Forum and other classrooms across the campus. 20 sessions with 46 different speakers were held during the day-long event.
Keynote Speaker was tech-industry entrepreneur Jeremy Almond, CEO of PayStand, a digital payment venture that has taken off in Silicon Valley.
According to Barbara Mason, Economic Development Coordinator for Santa Cruz County, about 80% of business in Santa Cruz County employee less than 10 employees–which is why supporting them is so vital.
“Everyone being together in one place like this is invaluable,” Mason said. “It’s a place for them to connect and to share what they’ve learned.”
The summit was held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with food provided. A number of local businesses and other groups sponsored the event, including Santa Cruz County SCORE, Think Local First and Martinelli’s. A closing reception was sponsored by Santa Cruz County Workforce Development.
