The arrival of your magazine always means lunch will be more interesting. I was immediately attracted to the illustration that accompanied the article "Drawing Lessons" (Minding Your Business, February 2000).

Companies like the Virginia Beach architectural firm Barnes Design Group should be aware that there are high school students becoming proficient in Architectural Desktop 2000, as well as other autocad products.

I encourage firms to draw from this developing research and hire interns and train employees who have not been exposed to this technology. The result will be much more than just 3-D effects, and the response will definitely be "Wow!"

Elizabeth S. Duke
Henrico

State is simply following federal SBDC requirements

I read the article "Maelstrom In Manassas" (February 2000). The box labeled "The Sticking Points" identified the Flory Center’s objections to certain state requirements. The state is the host organization for the Small Business Development Center program in Virginia.

The Small Business Administration oversees 58 federally funded Small Business Development Center programs in the United States and beyond. The "sticking points" identified are consistent with the administration’s regulations and are similar to SBDC requirements in other states.

Federal regulations and policies governing the SBDC program require that the host institution — in this case, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance — establish an SBDC network throughout the state. The host institution has agreements with other organizations and institutions within the state to deliver SBDC services. As the federal funding partner of the SBDC in every state, the SBA holds the state director responsible for the operation and productivity of the network and for following federal grant program circulars. This includes the lead SBDC as well as service centers within the network, which receive federal funds. And audits and examinations are required by law.

Johnnie L. Albertson
Associate Administrator
U.S. SBA, office of SBDC programs
Washington, D.C.