COLUMBUS, Ohio - In response to concerns raised by its small business members regarding access to credit, the Columbus Chamber is offering an opportunity for businesses to have their capital needs assessed by a variety of lenders.

The event, "Accessing Financing for Your Business: Speed Meetings with Lenders", will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, June 25, at the Columbus State Community College's Center for Workforce Development, 315 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus. Attendance is limited to 60 businesses. Registration is free and is now open at www.columbus.org.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business, just 40 percent of small businesses attempting to borrow in 2009 had all of their credit needs met. Small businesses make up approximately 90 percent of the Chamber's membership.

"One of the top issues for small businesses today is securing financing so they can expand, buy new equipment and hire more workers," said Ty Marsh, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber. "Helping these businesses grow is the Chamber's highest priority. By hosting the Accessing Financing event, we'll provide a venue for businesses and lenders to meet face-to-face -- using our resources to help make introductions and nurture relationships."

The four-hour event will include 'speed meetings' with a variety of local lenders, including Commerce National Bank, First Service Federal Credit Union, Huntington National Bank, JPMorgan Chase. Park National Bank, PNC Financial Services Group, Telhio, and US Bank.

Businesses in attendance will receive direct access to lenders, which can evaluate the needs of each individual business.

"This event will give small businesses the chance to get immediate feedback from financial institutions," said Parker MacDonell, principal, Invergarry Partners and chair of the Columbus Chamber Small Business Council. "I am excited the Chamber can bring together organizations in this way so that our community becomes even stronger."

The Accessing Financing event is part of the Chamber's Contacts to Contracts initiative. Through various events, Contacts to Contracts identifies contract opportunities that are available from the region's larger corporations and promotes this information to appropriate Chamber members that are small and entrepreneurial growth companies.