Miller Brewing announces its $20,000 grants to entrepreneurs

When most people think of Spike Lee, a flashback to his many films immediately comes to mind. From the poignant "X," based upon the best-selling autobiography of Malcolm X, to the thought-provoking "Do The Right Thing," Lee’s work positions him as the most revered African-American filmmaker of our time.

It’s Lee’s position, however, as a savvy businessman and CEO of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks and Musicworks, that enables him to get the green light on such important projects. An engaging speaker, Lee will serve as one of five high-profile African-American business leaders during the fifth-annual Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES), taking place in the fall.

The award-winning program—which includes a seminar traveling to five cities across the United States, and a national business competition that awards grants of $20,000 to aspiring and current entrepreneurs, ages 21-35, will also feature Suzanne de Passe, CEO and president of de Passe Entertainment, Jory Luster, president of Luster Products, and Michelle E. Williams, president of La Femme International Import-Export Inc.

The seminars occur in Chicago (Sept. 25), Detroit (Oct. 9), Los Angeles (Oct. 16), New York (Nov. 6) and Atlanta (Nov. 13). They offer up-and-coming, urban business-minded individuals a rare opportunity to gain insightful information on how to showcase, nurture and grow their companies. To date, the Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series has awarded $450,000 to 40 urban-owned ventures.

“The Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series is a vital program that Miller Brewing Company has developed for urban business owners, and they’ve set an excellent corporate example that many top corporations should follow,” said de Passe, who will speak at the Detroit seminar. “Programs such as Miller’s will not only change the individuals’ lives who are directly associated with it, but the world as well.”

For more information about the Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series, call 877-493-4400 or visit www.MillerBrewing.com. Interested applicants may request a business grant application after July 1, 2004. All applications must be requested by Monday, Nov. 15, 2004. Entries for the business grant competition must be received by Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004.

Official rules and requirements apply. For more information about the Business Grant Competition, visit MillerBrewing.com. California residents may receive more information about the Recycling Black Dollars Urban Entrepreneurs Business Grant Competition, sponsored by Miller Brewing Company, by visiting www.MillerBrewing.com.

Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Company is a wholly owned American subsidiary of SABMiller plc, the world’s second-largest brewer. Miller’s principal beer brands are Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life. The company imports Pilsner Urquell and Foster’s and has craft brews Leinenkugel’s and Henry Weinhard’s. Its portfolio of brands also includes Milwaukee’s Best and Sharp’s, a non-alcohol brew.

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