HispanicBusiness

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) has endorsed the MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES), an award-winning program that provides business grants to young, aspiring entrepreneurs. The USHCC represents the interests of the almost three million Hispanic-owned businesses, and is supporting the MUES national business plan competition which focuses on providing opportunities for up-and-coming urban business owners. Since its inception in 1999, the MUES program has been dedicated to assisting and advising aspiring entrepreneurs, allowing them to realize their dreams of owning and operating their own businesses, by providing expert analysis and numerous business grants.

"We are proud and honored to have the involvement of partners who are the pillars of our communities, like the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce," said Jose Ruano, Manager, Multicultural Relations, MillerCoors. "Grassroots outreach efforts are crucial to reaching the core Hispanic audience of upcoming entrepreneurs. The USHCC is encouraging participation in the MUES program by communicating this once in a lifetime opportunity to their constituency," Ruano said.

Ruano noted that the MUES program has helped contribute to the advancement of aspiring young professionals by placing them on the path to success. "The importance of empowering the young business minds of our communities and enabling them to reach their goals is a task that requires a collective effort from support systems within our communities, and providing this support system is a common goal of MillerCoors and the USHCC," he added.

"For nearly 30 years, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping Hispanic-owned businesses realize and achieve their full potential," said Augustine Martinez, President & CEO of the USHCC. He noted the USHCC is promoting the MUES program by reaching out to its vast network of Hispanic business owners, highlighting the program's benefits and driving participation. "The USHCC was created to ensure that the concerns and needs of the Hispanic business community were heard and met. As the number of Hispanic-owned businesses continues to grow in the U.S., we proudly endorse the MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series and salute MillerCoors for taking a leading role in ensuring the empowerment of the young entrepreneurs of our communities," Martinez added.

As the program continues to evolve and reach the next generation of urban entrepreneurs, MUES also recently re-launched its interactive Web site, http://www.millercoorsmues.com/, in Web 2.0. The site offers valuable information regarding the business plan competition and is additionally a substantial resource and tool for aspiring entrepreneurs. Through the site, future business moguls can interactively seek guidance from business professionals, gain valuable insight from previous winners through their blogs on MUES Talk, and get an exclusive, behind the scenes look at the competition through MUES TV. The Web site also includes the MUES business grant competition application and guidelines.

Over the course of the MUES program, approximately 1,400 business plans have been submitted and Miller has awarded a nearly $1 million benefiting more than 100 urban entrepreneurs throughout the nation. It is estimated that 50 percent of these businesses are currently operational, benefiting urban America by providing jobs and sustaining economic growth and development in sometimes blighted communities.

To support the program, MillerCoors, is continuing its relationships with community partners, including the Atlanta Business League, the Chicago Urban League, the Detroit Urban League, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Dallas, the Urban League of Greater Dallas and North Central Texas, Recycling Black Dollars of Los Angeles, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Urban League.

Call for Entries

An integral component of MUES is the Business Plan Competition, which concludes with grants awarded to young professionals to invest as start-up capital for their new or existing businesses. This year's top winner will be awarded a $50,000 grant, and four others will receive grants of $25,000 each. The competition is open to participants between the ages of 21 and 35, and the deadline for entries is Monday, December 1, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. (CST).

For more information on MUES, official rules, requirements of the Business Plan Competition and helpful resources for developing a business plan, visit http://www.millercoorsmues.com/.

About MillerCoors

Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers. MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment. Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies. MillerCoors brews full-calorie beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light. The company also imports Peroni, Pilsner Urquell and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and the Sparks line of caffeinated alcohol beverages. MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel's craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI and two microbreweries, the Leinenkugel's 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver. MillerCoors vision is to become the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth. MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of nearly three million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, and Uruguay. MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series

Web site: http://www.millercoorsmues.com/