CEDAR FALLS - The University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center-Small Business Development Center and the Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corp. invite community members, small-business owners and current and prospective entrepreneurs to the Showcase 2007 Small Business Expo on Thursday.

The free event is from 5 to 8 p.m. at Allen College's Barrett Forum on Logan Avenue in Waterloo.

The expo will feature Waterloo small-business owners, who will have their products and services on display. They will share their personal experiences with expo attendees and encourage them to pursue their own dreams of owning a business, said Jons Olsson, WNEDC chairman.

"We want Waterloo business owners - especially home-based businesses - to sign up to exhibit and share their stories. These individuals serve as excellent role models for others who may want to start a business," Olsson said. "In addition to inspiring others to start a business, exhibitors will walk away from the evening with new customer leads and new business contacts."

In addition to featuring home-based and other small-business displays, Showcase 2007 will highlight key development projects that have been catalysts for the economic revitalization of north and east Waterloo, such as the new Logan Avenue Hy-Vee and the Allen Hospital expansion.

The event also will kick off Waterloo MyEntreNet's 2007-2008 program. Attendees will be able to find out more about upcoming courses and workshops through MyEntreNet, which is an entrepreneurial development system coordinated by UNI's Regional Business Center-SBDC.

Working with WNEDC and UNI's Regional Business Center-SBDC to draw attention to north and east Waterloo development and to support entrepreneurship are the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, Cedar Valley Techworks, the city of Waterloo, Highway 63 Gateway, Iowans for Social and Economic Development Ventures, Community Outreach Partnership Center, Opportunity Works, the Eastside Ministerial Alliance, UNI's Institute for Decision Making, Hy-Vee, Allen Hospital and Allen College.