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Separate programs at º£½ÇÉçÇø over the next few weeks will focus on boosting small business and growing the knowledge economy.

Rep. John Garamendi is hosting the Small-Business Boost Conference, while The People’s Vanguard of Davis is presenting the other program, a community discussion on the knowledge economy and the university.

Both events will take place at the .

• Small-Business Boost Conference — Garamendi, D-Fairfield, is presenting this program in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration. º£½ÇÉçÇø is among other participating organizations.

Topics include: marketing techniques, special programs for women and veterans who own businesses, educational opportunities at º£½ÇÉçÇø and California State University, Sacramento, and financing opportunities.

The program also includes several business strategy presentations, including one by º£½ÇÉçÇø technology management professor Andrew Hargadon, who holds the Charles J. Soderquist Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Graduate School of Management.

The conference is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26. A live Webcast is planned; closer to the event.

Business owners interested in attending are asked to arrange reservations by phone, (530) 753-5316, or email to Andrew Kim.

• Forging a Knowledge Economy: How Davis is Benefitting from Entrepreneurs, Startups and Tech Transfer — º£½ÇÉçÇø is the host sponsor for this program, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2, and presented by (online newspaper) in conjunction with its 9th birthday. David Greenwald, the Vanguard's executive director, characterized the discussion as centering around growing the knowledge economy.

According to a Vanguard announcement, panelists will include Jenna Makus, associate director, º£½ÇÉçÇø Child Family Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Scott Ragsdale, general manager, Davis Roots; and Lonnie Bookbinder, Davis Angels Network.

Each panelist will give a brief talk, and then the panel will take questions from the audience.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will start at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers and complimentary wine will be served.

The cost is $50 per person. More information is available by phone, (530) 400-2512, or email.