ATLANTA - May 07, 2007 - The Make Mine a Million $ Business  program returns to Atlanta on June 1st and 2nd when women business owners will compete for a package designed to propel them past $1 million in annual revenues. Atlanta played host to the program in its pilot year, 2005. The program quickly evolved into a nationwide movement - recently pledging to inspire one million women to declare their intent to build $1 million businesses by 2010 - and is now returning to one of the enterprising cities that helped get it off the ground. 

The Make Mine a Million $ Business  program, launched by Count-Me-In for Women's Economic Independence with founding partner OPEN from American Express®,  will once again coincide with the National Association of Women Business Owners® annual conference where women from across the country will gather to discuss wide-ranging issues and trends shaping the small business landscape. In 2005, two Georgia-based women - Adrienne Simpson, founder of Smooth Mooove Senior Relocation Services, Inc., and Janice Cairns, founder of Breeze Home Fashions - took home top honors from the Make Mine a Million $ Business  program.

Women entrepreneurs interested in growing their businesses to the million-dollar plateau are encouraged to log onto www.makemineamillion.org to apply. Finalists will be invited to present their business plans to a panel of judges at the Westin Peachtree Plaza for a chance at business loans, marketing assistance, technology tools and mentoring from entrepreneurial experts. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to scale to the $1 million mark within two years. The application deadline is May 11, 2007.

The Make Mine a Million $ Business program has made huge gains in leveling the entrepreneurial playing field, but there is room for more growth. Out of the 10.6 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., just 3% generate more than $1 million dollars in annual revenue. Georgia alone has one quarter-million women-owned enterprises and less than 3% have crossed the million-dollar threshold.  

"The Make Mine a Million $ Business  program is designed for women who possess the potential to change their lives and impact the national economy," says Nell Merlino, founder and president, Count-Me-In. "We want to see women entrepreneurs in Georgia maximize that potential and propel their businesses into successful, million-dollar companies."

Last year, 15,000 women joined the Make Mine a Million $ Business network and have declared their intent to surpass the million dollar mark.  Since its pilot year, 71 women have been chosen from states across the nation to build million dollar enterprises, create jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy. Of the 71 awardees, ten women have already made it to $1 million. The program has also succeeded in attracting partnerships from leading organizations such as AIG, FedEx, Intuit, Cisco, and QVC.

“It’s great to be back in Georgia,” said Marcy Shinder, vice president, OPEN from American Express.  “Since our last Make Mine a Million $ Business  event in Atlanta thousands of women have joined the movement and we are thrilled to see our awardees begin to pass the million-dollar threshold.  Realizing our goal of one million at $1 million would benefit Georgia tremendously by creating an estimated 146,000 new jobs and $21 billion in additional economic activity for the state.”

About Count-Me-In

Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of on-line business loans and resources for women to grow their micro businesses into $million enterprises.  Find us at www.countmein.org or call 212-245-1245.

About OPEN from American Express  

OPEN is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies.  The OPEN Team supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit www.OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a Card or loan.  Terms and conditions apply. American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.  

Data source: US Census Bureau. Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners: Women-Owned Firms, 2002.  Published January 2006. (SB02-00CS-WMN). Prepared by Julie Weeks, President and CEO of Womenable, www.womenable.com.