Long Island Development Corporation (LIDC), Long Island's premier small business lender, recently received a coveted competitive national award from the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) last week at NADCO's annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Before some 800 attendees, NADCO awarded LIDC the Arthur Goodman Diversity Award, a competitive award chosen from some 200 nationwideapplicants. The award recognizes the efforts of the winner to promote women and minority owned businesses in our economy. The award is given to a recipient that best personifies a unique, impactive approach to promoting entrepreneurship in those categories. LIDC won the award for its innovative work in creating the LISBAC program (Long Island Small Business Assistance Corp.). LISBAC makes loans up to $10,000 to women owned businesses (start-up and existing) on Long Island. It is the only organization ever certified by the US Treasury as a Community Development Finance Institution/Community Development Entity to work solely with women entrepreneurs. In addition to loans, the program provides free counseling, seminars and other resources. Some 6,800 entrepreneurs have attended LISBAC's seminars. And the program has lent out over $300,000 to LI entrepreneurs thus far. The loans are funded by a loan and grant from Citibank NA and the seminars are supported by a grant from Empire State Development. Administration and oversight of the program is provided pro bono by LIDC.

At right, Pat McKrell, Incoming President New York Business Development Corp. and Roslyn Goldmacher, President/CEO LIDC and LISBAC.    LIDC Officers, Board of Directors and staff are shown below.		Pictured at left, accepting the award on behalf of LISBAC and LIDC are (L-R) Kurt Chilcott, Chairman of NADCO, Roslyn Goldmacher, President/CEO LIDC and LISBAC Phyllis Hill Slater, Chairman LISBAC, Treasurer LIDC Douglas Asofsky, Chairman LIDC; Sr. VP Citibank.