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BMO HARRIS BANK TO BE TITLE SPONSOR OF MILWAUKEE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
Milwaukee celebrates National Small Business Week May 20-May 24 with a series of events

MILWAUKEE, WI, April 9, 2013 - BMO Harris Bank and Mosaic Communications, in partnership with the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Small Business Development, announced the Bank’s Title Sponsorship for the 2013 Milwaukee Small Business Week, which coincides with National Small Business Week.

Every year since 1963, the president of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week (www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com) to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. Last year, Mayor Tom Barrett issued a proclamation solidifying that same week as Milwaukee Small Business Week.

“BMO Harris Bank is proud to be the Title sponsor of Milwaukee Small Business Week because we believe in providing business owners with the tools and resources needed for growth and success,” said Kara Kaiser, Regional President, BMO Harris Bank. “Small business growth is a key to driving our economy forward and our teams are constantly working with customers to identify financial solutions to help them realize their aspirations.”

Several exciting events for small business owners and entrepreneurs are being planned as part of Milwaukee Small Business Week. These events range from conference workshops to social events and will provide the small business community with resources, best practices and networking opportunities. Please find the schedule of events on the following page.

“We are thrilled to have BMO Harris Bank as the Title sponsor for Milwaukee Small Business Week,” said Johnna Scott, Co-Owner and Director of Marketing at Mosaic Communications. “Last year we laid the foundation and year two is shaping up to be the best year yet. It’s good to know that BMO Harris is committed to the small business community and understands our opportunities and our challenges.”

"Banks are in the business of connecting people with opportunities. Whether helping to launch new ventures, access untapped markets or invest in future prosperity, banks fuel customer initiatives that drive overall economic growth-and in doing so assume fundamental responsibility," said Margie Lawless, Senior Vice President of Small Business Banking. "That's why at BMO Harris Bank we are committed to Milwaukee's small business community and we recognize the key role small businesses plays in the vitality of the communities that we serve."

Milwaukee Small Business Week Event Schedule:

• National Small Business Week Kick-off News Conference and
  Work Hard, Play Hard Networking Reception
  Monday, May 2 0
  The Hudson, 310 E. Buffalo Street
  6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
• Milwaukee Small Business Conference
  Hosted by the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Small Business Development
  Tuesday, May 21
  Manpower Headquarters, 100 Manpower Place
  8 am until 1:30 p.m.
• Thinking Outside the Box: Creative Funding Options for Small Businesses
  Thursday, May 23
  Manpower Headquarters, 100 Manpower Place
  11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

To register for Milwaukee Small Business Week events, please visit http://bit.ly/Zx7N7z

In addition to BMO Harris as Title sponsor, Milwaukee Small Business Week’s supporting sponsors include Mosaic Communications, the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Small Business Development, Veolia Water, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Wisconsin Business Development, Lincoln Opportunity Fund, Milwaukee Public Schools, LISC Milwaukee, Prism Technical Management, Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewage District and WOO Connections. Milwaukee Radio Group’s Energy 106.9 FM and Jammin’ 98.3 FM are the official media partners for Milwaukee Small Business Week.

For more information about Milwaukee Small Business Week, including sponsorship information, please email neph@mosaic-wi.com or call 414.704.9932. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/Zx7N7z and follow @mkesmallbizweek on Twitter.

About BMO Harris Bank
BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida.  BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S.  For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and $542 billion in assets (as of Jan. 31, 2013).

About Mosaic Communications
Mosaic Communications is an award-winning woman-owned communications firm with offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm was launched in 2004 and represents a variety of corporate, government, nonprofit and small business clients. Mosaic Communications specializes in public relations, media relations, brand management, community relations, graphic design, event management, website design and marketing research. For more information, please visit www.mosaic-wi.com.