AUGUSTA – Joe Riley, director of television services for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, has received the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Journalist Award for 2006.

Riley utilized his leadership skills to produce the highly successful MPBN television series, “Starting a Business in Maine,” which explores issues relating to starting a business or expanding an enterprise.

John Massaua, state director for the Maine Small Business Development Centers, and James McGowan, state director of the Maine Quality Centers, Center for Career Development, nominated Riley for the award.

Viewers had the opportunity to ask questions of a panel of experts knowledgeable in business development in Maine.

To develop the program, Riley used the expertise of the Maine Community College System, the Maine Small Business Development Centers and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

More than 30,000 hits have been recorded on MPBN’s Web site and an additional 6,000 users visited the Maine SBDC Web site and referenced the “Starting a Business in Maine” series. This program is a tangible result of Riley’s commitment to the people of Maine.

Riley was honored at celebration dinner on May 24 at Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.