SEC TO HOST SMALL BUSINESS TOWN HALL MEETING IN SEATTLE, WA

The Commission today
announced that a small business town hall meeting will be held at
8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 1999 at the Hotel Monaco at
1101 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington.  The small business town
hall meetings, which are being conducted throughout the United
States, convey basic information to small business about
fundamental requirements that must be addressed when these
businesses wish to raise capital through the public sale of
securities.  In addition, the Commission hopes to learn more about
the concerns and problems facing small businesses in raising
capital so that programs can be designed to meet their needs,
consistent with the protection of investors.

     Brian J. Lane, Director of the Division of Corporation
Finance, will be the featured speaker of the Seattle Small Business
Town Hall Meeting, which is being co-sponsored by the Greater
Seattle Chamber of Commerce and MIT Enterprise Forum of the
Northwest.  Other speakers include Lyn Hamilton, Deputy District
Director for the Seattle District Office of the U.S. Small Business
Administration, Deborah Bortner, Director of Securities for the
Department of Financial Institutions for the State of Washington,
and Steven Loyd, Chairman of the Northwest Capital Network.  A
question and answer period will follow the presentations.

     For further information, contact Barbara Jacobs or Janice
McGuirk in the Office of Small Business in the Division of
Corporation Finance, at (202) 942-2950.  Or, please send an e-mail
message to the small business electronic mailbox at
“e-prospectus@sec.gov”.

       There is no charge for the town hall meeting; however, we
encourage you to make reservations by contacting Shiho Otsuka  at
the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce at (206) 389-7269 or by
e-mail at shihoo@seattlechamber.com.