Thirty students from Detroit-area high schools have been selected to participate in this intensive four-day workshop, taking place November 18-21st at the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) in Dearborn, Michigan. Participants will learn how to launch their own business, establish entrepreneurial and leadership goals, create a business plan, identify investment opportunities and other skills needed to become effective business leaders.

"BizFest gives aspiring young entrepreneurs practical, hands-on training on owning a business, marketing and networking. Through BizFest we hope to inspire the entrepreneurs of tomorrow," said Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the USHCC Foundation. "We value our partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, which allows us to offer Hispanic youth in Detroit this unique experience. This also provides an opportunity for us to collaborate with the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce which has long-supported our program."

At the closing of the event, the top students will present business plans to local business leaders to compete for different awards, including scholarships and prizes as well as long-term business support. The winner of the Detroit regional BizFest will have the opportunity to participate in the National "BizFest" Competition at the USHCC 31st Annual National Convention & Business Expo in Dallas, Texas, in September 2010.

The Detroit BizFest is one of several regional BizFests held throughout the country. BizFest is the USHCC Foundation's signature youth initiative. The BizFest training in Detroit will be conducted by Peter Hornberger, a Blended Learning and Consulting Specialist; Lenin Agudo of the Latino Business Resource Center; and Dama Gonzalez of Bilingual Executive Strategic Training (BEST). Carlos Ojeda, Jr., a motivational speaker and educator, will also participate in the program.

About the USHCC Foundation:

The USHCC Foundation is committed to the advancement of the Hispanic community's economic development and entrepreneurship skills through the empowerment of Hispanic-owned businesses, growth of the Hispanic chamber of commerce network and promotion of life-long learning experiences for Hispanic youth and entrepreneurs. The Foundation's broad-based approach is coupled with proactive strategy, which is reflected in the diverse number of USHCC Foundation-driven programs created to reach constituencies of all age groups and needs. For more information on the USHCC Foundation please visit www.ushccfoundation.org.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services:

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is a community relations and philanthropic non-profit funded by Ford Motor Company. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2009, Ford Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster and promote innovation in education, greater automotive safety and American heritage and diversity. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS), which provides 21st century skills-based curriculum to more than 40,000 high school students; and Ford Driving Skills for Life, which has taught safe driving skills to more than 337,000 young drivers. In addition, the Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, enlists the help of thousands of Ford employees and retirees who volunteer their time to continue Ford's legacy of community service worldwide. For more information about programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, please visit www.community.ford.com, www.volunteer.ford.com or www.abrighterfuture.ford.com.

SOURCE U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation

http://www.ushccfoundation.org

Marisa Bradley | mbradl31@ford.com | 313.845.3971

2010 Fusion beats the odds, comes out on top, again

Sales of Fusion, the most fuel-efficient midsize car in America, also are at an all-time high - despite industry sales being the lowest they've been since the 1980s. Fusion now ranks among America's top 10-selling vehicles. The number of import shoppers considering Fusion is also breaking records, as more and more Toyota and Honda customers are taking a closer look at the impressive fuel economy and class-exclusive technologies Fusion has to offer. more...

Angie Kozleski | akozlesk@ford.com | 313.323.1984

Smokin' hot EcoBoost

The power of EcoBoost goes far beyond its direct-injected turbo engine. Just look at the sales figures: October sales of vehicles boasting Ford's innovative EcoBoost(TM) fuel-efficient technology are twice that of September. In addition, EcoBoost-equipped Taurus SHO customers are 10-plus years younger than base Taurus buyers, a demographic Ford is eager to have back in the fold. There's good news on the conquest front as well, as 75 percent of Flex with EcoBoost buyers are trading in non-Ford vehicles on purchase. The momentum looks to continue as Ford will introduce four-cylinder EcoBoost variants next year. more...

Alan Hall | ahall32@ford.com | 313.594.3744

Ford has the best of what's new

Any consumer who has had trouble parallel parking can appreciate Ford's Active Park Assist. But drivers aren't the only ones who love this technology - Popular Science has honored Active Park Assist with a 2009 Best of What's New award. The system, which uses ultrasonic sensors to help drivers parallel park, underscores Ford's commitment to enhancing the driver experience and providing value to the customer. This award makes for three years in a row that Ford has won top honors from the world's leading science and technology magazine. more...

Alan Hall | ahall32@ford.com | 313.594.3744

Fiesta Movement agents set to take over L.A.; vote for your favorite agent

Get ready for a Fiesta party. Fiesta Movement agents are heading to L.A. for an awards ceremony celebrating their six-month journey as special agents for the new Ford Fiesta. Consumers can take part in the festivities by logging on to www.fiestamovement.com to vote for their favorite agent. A performance by the band Parachute marks the event as the perfect way to recognize the dedication and hard work of those involved in the Fiesta Movement. more...

Angie Kozleski | akozlesk@ford.com | 313.323.1984

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

http://www.ford.com

    --  Parachute, a pop-soul band that had four agents create a music video of
        its new single for October missions, will take to the stage to rock out
        for the evening

On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford will celebrate all things Fiesta Movement-related - the agents, social media and, of course, the Ford Fiesta - during an awards celebration at the Palladium in West Hollywood.

Among the awards categories will be a viewer's favorite, with fans and consumers having the opportunity to select their favorite Fiesta agent. Fans can visit www.fiestamovement.com to cast their vote now, and can vote once daily; voting closes Dec. 1.

The Fiesta Movement Awards Celebration, which takes place Dec. 1, will provide attendees with a sneak peak of the new Fiesta in advance of its reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2.

"We're celebrating the agents and all of the engaging content they created with this awards ceremony," said Connie Fontaine, Ford brand content and alliances manager. "Over the past six months, our agents have showed that they love Fiestas and we are thrilled to give three agents exactly what they want - a Fiesta of their own."

The band Parachute will be on hand for a live performance featuring its hits "She Is Love" and "Under Control" from the debut album Losing Sleep. Fiesta agents are no strangers to Parachute; four of them created a music video for "Under Control" for October missions. The agent videos will debut at the awards celebration during Parachute's performance.

In keeping with the spirit of the Fiesta Movement and its use of social media platforms, the awards celebration will also play host to the world's largest corporate tweetup.

Building buzz

As part of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a European-spec Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then go on to relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.

Throughout the Fiesta Movement, agents have traveled more than 1.1 million miles and have generated more than 5.5 million YouTube views, more than 677,000 Flickr views and more than 3.4 million Twitter impressions. The Fiesta Movement and test drive program has resulted in more than 60,000 hand-raisers.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

http://www.ford.com