Tag Archives: sba programs

SBA’s March Web Chat Offers Tips and Advice for Women-Owned Small Businesses

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WASHINGTON – In recognition of National Women’s History Month, SBA’s March web chat will feature an open forum on Women’s Business Ownership.  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership helps to promote growth of women-owned businesses through SBA programs offering business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and business and networking opportunities.  It also administers a nationwide network of Women’s Business Centers that provide training and counseling to entrepreneurs.

WHO:  Ana Harvey, assistant administrator of the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, will host the March web chat on “Ask the Expert: Women’s Small Business Open Forum.”  Join her for an exchange on starting and growing a business.

WHAT:  SBA’s web chat series provides small business owners with an opportunity to discuss relevant business issues online with experts, industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs.  Chat participants have direct, real-time access to the web chats via questions they submit online in advance, and during the live session.  Participants will gain valuable information on how to connect to counselors, mentors and other women business owners.  

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State Small Business Week Winners Will Head for Washington in May

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SBA Honors Nation’s Top Small Businesses
Winners Will Gather in Washington during National Small Business Week

WASHINGTON – Small Business Person of the Year winners from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam will converge on Washington, D.C. in May, when one of them will be selected as National Small Business Person of the Year during the U.S. Small Business Administration’s celebration of National Small Business Week, May 20-22.

The participating state small business winners represent a broad range of business products, services and innovations, including a gourmet food maker from Maine, a North Carolina microbrewery, a bus-builder from Nevada, a Wisconsin dental clinic, a machine parts miller from Iowa, a trade show producer from New Mexico and 47 others from across the country.

While in D.C., the winners will have opportunities to meet with top administration officials, congressional representatives and national business leaders.  The highlight of the celebration will come when one of them is named National Small Business Person of the Year.  

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SBA Finalizes One Size Definition Change, Proposes Another

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SBA Increases Size Standards in Transportation and Warehousing Sector, Proposes Increases for Health Care and Social Assistance Sector

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration today published a final rule in The Federal Register raising the size definitions of small businesses in the Transportation and Warehousing sector, and a proposed rule increasing the size standards for the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.  The increases reflect changes in marketplace conditions.

The SBA initially proposed revisions to small business size definitions for the Transportation and Warehousing sector in a proposed rule published in The Federal Register on May 13, 2011, and made it available for public comment.

The final rule will increase the revenue-based size standards in 22 industries and retain the current size standards for the remaining 37 industries in the Transportation and Warehousing sector.  The SBA estimates as many as 1,200 additional firms in this sector will become eligible for SBA programs as a result of these revisions.  

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New Online Course Introduced for Native American Small Business Owners

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WASHINGTON – Native American entrepreneurs have a new tool to help determine if they’re ready for business ownership and to help them get started.  Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success is a free, self-paced online business course developed for Native American business owners.  The course provides an overview of basic business principles and  makes them aware of the programs and services available from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success will enhance the agency’s effort to provide important resources for emerging Native American entrepreneurs,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills.  “Our ultimate goal is to help create jobs and stimulate economic and business development in our Native American communities. This course is an essential business development tool for the entrepreneur’s toolbox.”

The new online course: emphasizes business planning and market research as essential steps to take before going into business; informs Native American entrepreneurs about the legal aspects of starting a business, including the type of ownership (legal structure) and licensing; and provides key information on seed money for starting up, raising capital, and borrowing money.  In addition, there is a section on how to estimate business start-up costs that can help assess the financial needs of going into business.  

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