This year, the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), a new private sector partnership affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), will initiate El Mil Milenario, the Millennium 1,000.

What is El Mil Milenario - the Millennium 1,000? A yearlong effort to identify young entrepreneurs 35 or under as of January 1 2,000, who have made significant contributions to their country by creating employment. At the end of 2000 the 1,000 highest ranked individuals will be identified and in 2001 they will be recognized in a series of special events and promotions.

What is the M1,000 plan? The plan is simple, straightforward and streamlined:

• Now Begin the preliminary phase, identifying business leaders who can help in this process and start soliciting nominees.

• December 31, 2000 Application process completed

• January - April, 2001 Rank and verify applications

• April, 2001 Announce highest ranked nominees

Where are we now? The Millennium 1000 was formally launched at the OAS General Assembly in June 2000 and now we are building a network of business leaders to help identify these young businesspersons. In this, we ask your assistance in what will be a tremendous opportunity to network with the most dynamic young entrepreneurs in the Hemisphere.

What is the YABT Business Leaders Network? A network of experienced business leaders in each country that will help with the YABT M1,000 in two ways:

1. Promote the Millennium 1,000 locally and in-country to gain exposure for the initiative in the media and business organizations to solicit applications.

2. After applications are received by the YABT and ranked, to help verify the information on the application form.

What are the benefits of participating in the YABT M1,000 Business Leaders Network? Network members will be recognized throughout the M1,000 program as the backbone of the effort. This will provide BLN Members several opportunities to interact with some of the most dynamic young entrepreneurs in the Americas and the Caribbean. Individual BLN Members and their companies will be recognized

• In materials produced for the launch at the OAS General Assembly

• in national and regional publicity during the promotion and application process, and

• Will be included in the final listings: online, the M1000 CD ROM, and in printed documents.

What's the selection process? The criteria and application form are designed to enable the YABT to rank the young entrepreneurs in a straightforward manner, giving transparency and credibility to the selection process.

An allocation formula determines the number of nominees to be selected in each country, based on the size of its population.

There are three criteria to determine eligibility:

1. Demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership (exercising effective management control over, and having a substantial ownership interest in a company with 5 or more employees as of January 1, 2000);

2. Age (35 or under as of January 1, 2,000); and

3. Record of success in job creation (jobs created per year in business.)
   Note: To apply a person must be a citizen or permanent resident of one of OAS country members.

Note: Employment refers to jobs created, and includes franchise, subsidiary, and multi-level marketing organizations where there is a direct connection with the applicant.

The Application Form can be completed in ten minutes and can be done on-line at the www.ybiz.net website for immediate application. Applications can also be faxed to the YABT or sent by mail. Only applications received on-line will be acknowledged by email.

Ranking: applications will be entered into a database, ranked, and sorted into three categories

1. Nominees eligible for verification and further consideration

2. Nominees eligible but not ranked high enough within the country's allocation

3. Nominees not eligible, based on one or more of the three criteria.

The following table shows the allocation of nominees by country. The calculations are based on population size and special considerations were taken in small countries, which were assigned a minimum quota of 5 nominees.

For additional information contact Roy Thomasson at Rthomasson@oas.org