BRIEFLY

Marketing Tips: “Managing and Marketing for Success” is the topic of a seminar to be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Red Lion Hotel in Culver City. Business consultants Ward Wieman and Phyllis Spiva will discuss marketing ideas and ways to boost productivity. Cost is $49 in advance and $59 at the door. Information: (310) 828-5590.

International Trade: Small businesses seeking exporting advice and marketing and financing ideas can turn to a newly created program, LA Trade. The $2.6-million, two-year federally funded program is administered by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and four other nonprofit business agencies. Information: (213) 580-7528.

Minority Loans: An East Los Angeles tax service, a Van Nuys grocery and a Pasadena engineering firm recently received loans ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 under a new Small Business Administration minority pre-qualification loan program. The program speeds up loan processing for minority business owners by having community-based financial agencies use a special two-page application form for SBA pre-approvals. For details, call the Los Angeles district office of the Small Business Administration at (818) 552-3201.

Broadway Fight: The dispute over the fate of the Broadway Business Improvement District in Downtown Los Angeles has meant cost-cutting measures as money runs out. The district was funded in May, 1994, for one year and required City Council renewal this year. But merchants who opposed the assessment fees began a drive to kill the district, delaying hearings before the City Council to Oct. 24.