Graduates of the Minority Business Development Program were surveyed in order to determine the extent to which the program gave them the experience and tools they needed to prosper in business. The results of the survey were presented at a hearing before the Congressional Committee on Small Business. Most of the responses from the graduates were positive (between 70 and 80 percent are still in business in spite of prophecies that they would fail), which indicates that the program did impact knowledge and sharpen skills needed. Some comments and criticisms of the program were the following: (1) the selection of participating businesses is too political; (2) very few of the graduates are involved in manufacturing; (3) dropouts and graduates should be followed up so that they can give input for improving the program; (4) an examination should be made of the tendency of new graduates to sell out to larger corporations; (5) changes should be made in the program so that participants are more prepared for the severance of ties upon graduation; and (6) the administrative practices of the Small Business Administration, which directs this program, need to be changed and monitored. (VM)