Tuesday, June 29, 2010

June 29-July 4: Life is good® Offers Free Shipping on All Orders!

This just in...

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Monday, June 28, 2010

SBA Supports More Than $29.2 Billion in Recovery Loans to Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] received $730 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA] to help unlock the small-business lending market and get capital flowing again to America’s small businesses. Due to the success of these programs, the SBA has received an additional $305 million to continue some ARRA programs through May.

SBA Recovery Efforts -- Impact to Date
* SBA Has Supported More Than $29.2 Billion in Recovery Loans to Small Businesses: As of June 25, SBA has supported $29.2 billion-plus in small-business lending, with the approval of $21.9 billion in Recovery loans since Feb. 17. From Feb. 17, 2009 to June 25, 2010, weekly SBA loan dollar volumes rose more than 90 percent in the 7[a] and 504 programs, compared to the weekly average before passage.

* More Lenders Making Loans: From Feb. 17, 2009 to June 25, 2010, more than 1,363 lenders who had not made a loan since at least 2007, made a 7[a] loan.

* Broad Support to Businesses: A significant share of Recovery loans have gone to rural [24 percent], minority-owned [21 percent], women-owned [18 percent], and veteran-owned [8 percent] businesses.

* Secondary Markets Uptick with 7[a] Loans: After months of reduced activity and lower premiums, the SBA 7[a] secondary market is picking up, and premiums are beginning to recover. From June to May, the average monthly loan volume settled from lenders to broker-dealers in the 7[a] secondary market has been $330 million, providing lenders with additional liquidity to increase lending.

* America's Recovery Capital [ARC] Loans Helping Small Businesses: As of June 25, SBA has approved 7,871 ARC loans totaling over $254.8.5 million by 1,265 lenders to help small businesses make it through this tough economy.

SBA Recovery Programs
To date, SBA has implemented programs for all of the $730 million in SBA Recovery Act funding, plus an additional $305 million provided in December, February, March and April for the agency’s lending programs -- including:

* Eliminating and reducing fees for borrowers on 7[a] loans, and for borrowers and lenders on 504 loans;

* Raising to 90 percent the guarantee on 7[a] loans -- from 75 or 85 percent, depending on the size of loan;

* Doubling the surety bond guarantee from $2 million to $5 million, providing small businesses with another tool to help them compete for federal construction and service contracts;

* Assisting struggling small businesses with the new ARC loan program, which provides no-interest, deferred-repayment loans of up to $35,000 to viable businesses to help them make debt payments;

* Providing refinancing opportunities for certain eligible loans into SBA-backed 504 loans for expansion and job creation;

* Expanding access to investment capital for small businesses by increasing funding levels for SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies [SBICs]; and

* Taking steps to ensure the stability of the secondary market for SBA loans.

The SBA has also implemented two new programs that complement the ARRA measures and increase access to capital for small businesses by:

* Expanding 7[a] loan eligibility to more than 70,000 small businesses through a temporary alternate size standard; and

* Offering inventory financing for eligible auto, RV, boat and other dealerships under the new Dealer Floor Plan Financing pilot program.

To learn more about how SBA and the Recovery Act are helping small businesses succeed throughout America, go to: http://bit.ly/SuccessStoriesSBA.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

New First-Mortgage Loan Poolers Will Jump-Start Secondary Market for SBA 504 Loans, Make Credit More Available

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the first nine loan pool originators authorized by the agency to assemble and sell pools of 504 program first-mortgage loans -- a major step to jump-starting a secondary market that should make fixed-asset financing more widely available for small businesses.

The new program was approved under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Prior to the recent disruption in the credit market, a private secondary market for these loans existed, but has not revived as the economy has started to rebound. SBA expects this new program to breathe new life into that secondary market and improve access to credit for small businesses by providing a resource that can help boost liquidity to small-business lenders.

"With the resources provided in the Recovery Act, we have engineered a turnaround in its SBA lending, putting nearly $30 billion in the hands of small businesses across the country," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured]. "This added support now to relaunch the 504 first-mortgage secondary market builds on that success, and will help leverage even more capital for small businesses to support their growth and create new jobs."

Under the program, the SBA will provide a government guarantee on pools of portions of eligible 504 first-mortgage loans assembled by approved pool originators to be sold to third-party investors. Lenders will retain at least 15 percent of each individual loan, pool originators will assume five percent of the risk, and the SBA will guarantee the remaining 80 percent.

Typically, a 504 project includes three elements:

1] A loan [or first mortgage] secured with a senior lien from a private-sector lender, covering up to 50 percent of the project cost;

2] A second mortgage secured with a junior lien from a Certified Development Company [backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture], covering up to 40 percent of the cost; and

3] A contribution of at least 10 percent equity from the small-business borrower.

Under the new program, portions of the senior liens are pooled by pool originators and sold to investors in the secondary market. To be eligible to be included in a pool, the first mortgage must be associated with a 504 loan disbursed on or after Feb. 17, 2009. The program will be in place until Feb. 16, 2011 -- or until $3 billion in new pools are created, whichever occurs first.

The pool originators approved thus far are:

* Bank of America, N. A. of New York, N.Y.;

* Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. of New York, N.Y.;

* Citizens Bank of Elizabethton, Tenn.;

* Coastal Securities, Inc. of Houston, Tex.;

* Community South Bank of Knoxville, Tenn.;

* Fidelity Bank of Covington, Ga.;

* Meadows Bank of Las Vegas, Nev.;

* Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. of Salt Lake City, Utah; and

* Voyager Bank of Eden Prairie, Minn.

For additional information on the pool originators, visit: http://bit.ly/SecondaryMarket.

The list will be updated regularly as new originators are approved.

For more information about all of the SBA’s programs for small businesses, visit the SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Senate Confirms Marie Johns as SBA Deputy Administrator

Marie C. Johns [pictured], a longtime advocate for small businesses, was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate today as deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA].

Johns, who was nominated for the post by President Barack Obama, will be the second-ranking official at SBA, with major responsibility for management, policy development and program supervision.

"I’m thrilled to welcome Marie Johns as deputy administrator of the SBA," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Over the past two decades, Marie has dedicated herself to creating great opportunities for small businesses and the local community in Washington, D.C. Marie’s strong leadership will help provide small businesses with the guidance, support and tools they need to grow, create jobs and continue to drive economic recovery throughout the country."

"I am grateful to President Obama for his nomination, and it is an honor to assume the role of SBA deputy administrator," Johns said. "I am excited to join Administrator Mills and the entire SBA team to serve the interests of small businesses across this country. The SBA mission is fundamental to the economic strength of our nation; that is, give small businesses the support they need to grow and create jobs."

Johns is a managing member of L&L Consulting LLC, an organizational effectiveness and public-policy consulting practice. Previously, she served as president of Verizon Washington. Under her leadership, Verizon Washington made significant strides in maintaining the company’s financial health during tumultuous times in the telecommunications industry. Johns retired from Verizon in 2004, after 21 years of service in the telecommunications industry.

Johns has a long record of business and civic leadership. She is the former chair of the DC Chamber of Commerce; founder of the Washington, D.C., Technology Council; former chair of Leadership Greater Washington; and founding chair of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science [MS]².

While at Verizon Washington, Johns created the Students Educated for Economic Development Success [SEEDS] program. SEEDS prepared over 200 high-school dropouts for entry-level positions in the telecommunications industry -- many of whom were hired by small, local firms.

"Marie Johns comes to the SBA with an impeccable record of leadership and public service," noted Mary Landrieu [D-La.], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "At a time when this agency is undergoing enormous transformations, Marie will be an invaluable asset to Administrator Mills and her team as they continue to put small businesses at the forefront of our economic recovery. I look forward to working with Deputy Administrator Johns in her new capacity, and am glad to have her working on behalf of small businesses across the country."

Johns currently chairs the board of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science [MS]²; serves on the Council for Court Excellence; and is a member of the board of Girl Scouts USA, the advisory board of the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services, and the women’s advisory board of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital [GSNC].

She earned her BS and MPA degrees from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Trinity University in Washington, D.C. Johns has been married to Wendell Johns for 38 years.

Last month, the Small Business Committee held a confirmation hearing for the deputy administrator. To view more information from the hearing and testimony from Marie Johns, please visit: http://bit.ly/JohnsConfirmation.

GoodBiz113's Take
Once again, the Obama administration has added an extremely well-qualified candidate to its team. Our nation needs all the MVPs we can get, and Marie Johns clearly has the leadership and management acumen to keep SBA moving forward for the win-win-win good of small businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed folks from coast to coast.

SOURCES: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Monday, June 21, 2010

Sens. Landrieu, Kerry Introduce Legislation to Boost Broadband Internet Access for Small Business

United States Senators Mary L. Landrieu [D-La.], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and John F. Kerry, [D-Mass., pictured] introduced legislation to better assist small-business owners in accessing broadband Internet technology.

The "Small Business Broadband and Emerging Technology Enhancement Act of 2010" [S. 3506] addresses many of the recommendations from the Federal Communications Commission’s [FCC] March 2010 report -- entitled "Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan" -- which calls for increased broadband access for rural small businesses.

"Improving access to technology for small businesses, particularly in rural areas, is an important component to economic recovery," said Sen. Landrieu. "With access to broadband Internet, a small firm that once was confined to a single town has the ability to reach a new customer base on the opposite side of the world. Louisiana is home to some of the most rural, underserved areas in the country. By assisting rural firms in upgrading their technology, I am committed to making these small businesses play an active role in jump-starting local economies.

"The FCC has done an extensive evaluation of the effects of advanced technology on small-business growth. The adoption of many of the recommendations of this report will support small businesses interested in expanding their operations. The Small Business Committee is dedicated to providing added assistance to these small businesses, and this legislation puts us on the path to doing so."

Sen. Kerry, a member of the Small Business Committee and its former chair, noted that the legislation will serve his constituents well. "Universal broadband access will empower small businesses across Massachusetts," he said. "It means greater connectivity for employees, while giving local businesses global access, allowing a shop in Western Massachusetts to make sales in Western Europe.

"Today, broadband is essential to the success of our small businesses. I commend Sen. Landrieu for championing the effort to connect them."

The legislation introduced by Sens. Landrieu and Kerry would:

* Create a Broadband and Emerging Technology Coordinator within the SBA to better coordinate agency programs that assist small businesses in adopting, making innovations in, and using, broadband and other emerging technologies;

* Amend the mission of Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs] to include assisting small businesses in accessing broadband and other emerging technologies;

* Amend the mission of the Women’s Business Centers [WBCs] to include assisting women-owned small businesses in accessing broadband and other emerging technologies;

* Allows SBA 7[a], 504, and Microloan programs to include upgrading broadband technology under eligible uses;

* Create the "Rural Small Business Technology Pilot Program" to provide excess government-owned computers each year to qualified small businesses at little or no cost; and

* Require the SBA administrator, in consultation with the administrator of General Services, to submit a report to the committee on opportunities at SBA, through deployment of technology in its district offices, to assist with the development of broadband and wireless technology for local small businesses.

In April, the Small Business Committee held a hearing to discuss efforts to increase broadband accessibility. The hearing specifically highlight the FCC National Broadband Plan, which included several Landrieu recommendations. Yos can view information from the hearing at: http://bit.ly/BroadbandHearing.

Resources
To view the complete text of the "Small Business Broadband and Emerging Technology Enhancement Act of 2010," S. 3506, please go to: http://bit.ly/SmallBizBroadband2010.

To keep apprised of national broadband-related developments and events, please visit: http://www.broadband.gov/.

To read the complete text of the FCC's National Broadband Plan, please go to: http://www.broadband.gov/plan/.

SOURCES: Federal Communications Commission, Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Rodrigue Creates One-of-a-Kind Artwork to Raise Funds for Youth Development, Animals in Need

GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"] just announced that he's created a one-of-a-kind artwork -- "The Three Amigos" [pictured above] -- exclusively for charitybuzz®, to raise funds and awareness for his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts [GRFA], and for the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [LA/SPCA].

Rodrigue has added hand embellishments -- using colored paint pens, as well as a pencil sketch -- to create this mixed-media piece. "The Three Amigos" is an original silkscreen print that has been signed and remarqued, and measures 22 X 28". It will be mounted and shipped flat to the winning bidder. Bidding at charitybuzz closes on Thursday, July 1, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Rodrigue's far-reaching GRFA advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth. GRFA encourages the use of art within all curricula, and supports a variety of art educational programs.

To learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

LA/SPCA is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of animal suffering. Chartered in 1888, they are the oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization in the state, providing care and basic medical services for thousands of homeless and unwanted animals each year.

For more information about the LA/SPCA, go to: http://la-spca.org/.

For the chance at adding Rodrigue's "The Three Amigos" to your collection -- and supporting two very worthy nonprofit organizations in the process -- go to: http://bit.ly/TheThreeAmigos.

SOURCE: George Rodrigue Studio
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Friday, June 18, 2010

House Passes Small-Business Capital Bill; Initiative Would Reinvigorate Investment in Small Businesses

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, H.R. 5297, by a vote of 241-182. The legislation will aid small businesses in securing capital through new community bank incentives, support for state lending initiatives, and by opening venture-capital markets to small businesses.

"Today, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Chairman Frank, Chairman Levin and Chairwoman Velázquez, the House of Representatives took strong action to help continue moving our nation's economic recovery forward," declared U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "At a time when too many small businesses are struggling to find access to the credit they need to hire and expand, this legislation will help ensure that Main Street entrepreneurs are better positioned to create new jobs and invest in their local communities."

The legislation passed by the House includes two key lending initiatives put forward by the Administration:

1] A Small Business Lending Fund that will provide small banks with capital and incentives to extend more credit; and

2] A State Small Business Credit Initiative to support innovative state small business programs -- many of which have been threatened by budget shortfalls.

"The lending initiatives passed today, along with the elimination of capital-gains taxes on small business investments approved by the House earlier this week, will help make certain that small businesses can play a critical role in building and sustaining our nation's economic recovery," Geithner added. "The Administration urges the Senate to take swift action on a package of measures to support small businesses, and looks forward to working closely with Congress as they move to finalize this legislation."

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez [D-N.Y., pictured], chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, was pleased by yesterday's development. "As our most prolific job creators, small businesses will be central to the recovery of the U.S. economy," she said. "However, for entrepreneurs to expand and create jobs, they need access to financing. The measure we approved will make both credit and equity capital available for small firms."

While the legislation would establish a new $30 billion lending fund for community banks -- which proponents say would provide $300 billion in lending to entrepreneurs -- key changes were made during debate of the bill to ensure Main Street businesses benefit from the legislation:

* Rep. Glenn Nye [D-Va.] authored safeguards in the bill that will require banks to substantially boost their small-business lending to qualify for funds; and

* To further assist small firms, language prepared by Rep. Kurt Schrader [D-Ore.] would establish a new borrower assistance program, providing additional funds to small businesses who take out loans. The funds can be used at the entrepreneur's discretion to reduce their interest rates, defer their loan or cover monthly payments.

"Since the onset of the financial crisis, much has been done to shore up our nation's banks, but entrepreneurs' needs have gone unmet," Velázquez said. "These amendments will make sure that small businesses benefit from the current proposal, and I thank Mr. Nye and Mr. Schrader for offering them."

With the capital markets evolving, small businesses are increasingly looking beyond debt financing to equity capital to meet their financing needs. While entrepreneurs have traditionally used assets like real estate to secure loans, more and more business owners today seek financing based on their strengths; e.g., scientific expertise, research technologies, and potential for commercialization. For these firms, investment capital is a better financing solution.

To account for these economic changes, the legislation contains provisions aimed at reinvigorating investment in small start-ups. By establishing a new Small Business Early-Stage Investment Program, funds from the SBA will be paired with private capital to invest in small start-ups.

"In a world where revolutionary new products are conceived in dorm rooms and companies are born in garages, we need new ways of meeting businesses' capital needs," Velázquez noted. "The Small Business Early-Stage Investment Program recognizes this fundamental shift, taking steps to meet the capital needs of new businesses and helping them create jobs."

GoodBiz113's Take
This critical legislation is just the stimulus that U.S. small businesses need in order expand and create even more jobs for our nation's economic recovery. Kudos to Rep. Velázquez and her colleagues for propelling such far-reaching policy.

SOURCES: Community Development Venture Capital Alliance [CDVCA], Library of Congress, OpenCongress, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. House Committee on Small Business, The White House
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Landrieu Aims to Improve Evaluation of Oil-Spill Cleanup Proposals

United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu [D-La.], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today held a hearing to discuss the evaluation process for proposals to clean up the leaking oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, as well as ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.

The hearing -- entitled "Harnessing Small Business Innovation: Navigating the Evaluation Process for Gulf Coast Oil Cleanup Proposals" -- brought together federal witnesses from the U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to discuss what the current process entails, and how small businesses can play a pivotal role in the Gulf Coast cleanup.

"As I have said before, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our business owners were up to their chins in water," Sen. Landrieu said. "Now, because of this disaster, these same business owners are up to their knees in oil. We want to find out how small businesses with the technology and innovation to help clean up this oil can get those technologies and innovative ideas deployed to the Gulf of Mexico.

"The most recent data from the Flow Rate Technical Group estimates as much as 60,000 barrels of oil a day is escaping from the damaged well. With so much at stake along the Gulf Coast, small businesses with the knowledge of oil-spill cleanup can play an active role in cleaning up this disaster, and we want to make sure they have the opportunity to do that."

Testifying on the first panel for the U.S. Coast Guard was Rear Admiral Ronald J. Rábago, assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer [CAO]; and Dr. Paul T. Anastas, assistant administrator and science advisor for the EPA's Office of Research and Development [ORD].

The second panel included witnesses from businesses and universities with experience working with oil-spill cleanup -- including Oscar-winning actor and entrepreneur Kevin Costner [pictured], from Ocean Therapy Solutions LLC; Eric Smith, from Tulane University; Dan Parker, with C.I.Agent Solutions®; Heather Baird, with MicroSorb Environmental Products Inc.; and Dr. Carys Mitchelmore, from the University of Maryland.

During the hearing, the U.S. Coast Guard testified that over 1,900 proposals have been reviewed by the federal Interagency Alternative Technology Assessment Program [IATAP], and screened about 600 proposals. To date, no proposals have yet been deployed in the Gulf of Mexico, but IATAP has forwarded one proposal to Rear Admiral James A. Watson, the federal on-scene coordinator, for possible deployment in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of today, BP has received over 35,000 proposals -- with only four in the testing phase and none deployed to the Gulf of Mexico.

Chair Landrieu pressed the Coast Guard and EPA officials to improve communications with companies submitting proposals -- particularly in getting timely responses on the status of those proposals. She also encouraged the agencies to make the process more transparent, and to communicate with local Gulf Coast officials on possible credible proposals.

On the business panel, Kevin Costner, partner of Ocean Therapy Solutions LLC, testified that he has spent 15 years and $24 million of us own funds developing his company’s technology. An additional $1 million was spent adjusting the machines to prepare them for testing.

Costner indicated that his company had screened this technology for various federal agencies over the years, but they were noncommittal and did not follow up. BP is contracting with Ocean Therapy Solutions to deploy more than 30 machines into the Gulf of Mexico.

During the hearing, Sen. Landrieu made public a two-page document for small businesses that wish to submit a product or credible idea to the Unified Area Command or BP. The document includes specific instructions for submitting information, as well as information on the overall process. To view the application, visit: http://bit.ly/OilSpillCleanupApp.

To view a video of the hearing, as well as testimony from each witness, please go to: http://bit.ly/OilSpillCleanupHearing.

SOURCES: Ocean Therapy Solutions LLC [photo], U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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June 22 & 24: SBA Offers Free Webinar and Web Chat to Encourage Disaster Preparedness Planning for Business Owners

No matter what time of year it is, or where you run your business, it’s a good idea to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Recent disasters, such as the record-breaking flooding which occurred in Tennessee in April, serve as reminders to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly.

Toward this end, the U.S. Small Business Administration will offer two online disaster preparedness events next week:

Tuesday, June 22 -- 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Agility Recovery Solutions President & CEO Bob Boyd will discuss "10 Steps to Business Preparedness." Boyd will highlight key aspects of business continuity planning -- including risk assessment, data backup, crisis communications and insurance coverage. A Q&A will follow.

Register in advance at: http://www.preparemybusiness.org/education.

Thursday, June 24 -- 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EDT
SBA’s monthly Online Business Chat, "Disaster Preparedness for Business Owners: An Inside View," will be hosted by Nashville business owner Genma Holmes [pictured], CEO of Holmes Pest Control. Holmes will share her experience of how another business owner’s losses after Hurricane Katrina inspired her to develop her own preparedness plan. Because she was ready for the disaster, Holmes was able to resume operations just one day after cleaning up after a recent flood in Nashville.

Holmes will take questions and offer advice on disaster preparedness. Those participating in the Thursday Web chat may submit questions before or during the discussion.

Join the event live by visiting http://www.sba.gov/, and clicking "Online Business Chat." Web chat participants may post questions prior to the event by visiting: http://bit.ly/LiveMeetingSBA.

To review archives of past Web chats, go to: http://bit.ly/MonthlyWebChatSBA.

For education, planning, testing, and disaster preparedness tools and information to help keep your business up and running -- after a disaster, power outage, etc. -- please visit: http://www.preparemybusiness.org/.

SOURCES: Genma Speaks [photo], U.S. Small Business Administration
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USIBWC Awards Contract to El Paso Firm for Rio Grande Levee Construction, Funded by the Recovery Act

The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission [USIBWC] has awarded a construction contract for rehabilitation of Rio Grande Rectification Project levees in West Texas, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [Recovery Act]. The Recovery Act includes $220 million for USIBWC levee projects.

A contract in the amount of $8.3 million was awarded to Ultimate Concrete LLC of El Paso, Tex., to construct 15.4 miles of levee improvements in El Paso and Hudspeth counties. In accordance with the contract, Ultimate Concrete will raise and make structural improvements to 6.9 miles of river levee in the Fabens-Tornillo area and 8.5 miles at Fort Hancock between the Alamo and Diablo Arroyos, including a gated floodwall at the Fort Hancock-Porvenir International Bridge. The work is expected to be completed in early 2011.

"I am pleased that we are able to improve flood protection for the community while putting local people back to work," said U.S. Commissioner Edward Drusina [pictured].

The Rio Grande Rectification Project is a USIBWC flood control project that covers 85 river miles from El Paso to Fort Quitman, Tex. The USIBWC has already raised Rectification Project levees protecting the city of El Paso.

The USIBWC is raising levee height and making structural improvements to bring the levees into compliance with standards established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] to provide protection against the 100-year river flood.

To date, the USIBWC has awarded $154.7 million in Recovery Act contracts -- including contracts for levee construction in Hatch and the Mesilla Valley, in New Mexico; El Paso’s Upper Valley, in Texas; and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in Hidalgo and Cameron counties, Texas.

The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, promote economic recovery, and invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. USIBWC Recovery Act expenditures have already preserved or created 390 jobs.

The USIBWC provides regular public updates on its planning and spending of Recovery Act funds at http://www.recovery.gov/ and http://www.state.gov/recovery. A project schedule is available at http://bit.ly/RecoveryUSIBWC.

SOURCES: Recovery.gov, U.S. Department of State
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Landrieu Letter to SBA Urges Support for Gulf Coast Small Businesses

United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today sent a letter to Small Business Administration [SBA] Administrator Karen Mills, highlighting several initiatives aimed at assisting small businesses being impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"As I write to you today, Gulf Coast small businesses continue to struggle with the growing economic impact from the disaster," Landrieu stated in the letter. "This is because, in addition to the current six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling, there is a ripple effect of the multiple fisheries closures, as well as a slowdown in tourism due to the oil spill.

"Depending on the season, up to 40 percent of the nation’s commercial seafood harvest comes from the Gulf of Mexico. The tourism and fisheries impacts of the disaster threaten the continued viability of our Gulf Coast restaurants, ice houses, processors, grocery stores, and other small businesses."

In her letter, Sen. Landrieu requested the SBA turn attention to the following federal assistance programs:

SBA Disaster Loan Interest Relief
In total, there are over 12,000 disaster loans outstanding from the 2005/2008 hurricanes with businesses who employ about 40,000 people. Landrieu requests the Obama Administration’s support for interest relief of up to $15,000 on outstanding disaster loans from the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes.

This proposal, intended to inject immediate capital into these businesses, is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and numerous Gulf Coast local governments and organizations. It has also been endorsed by the New York Times and the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspapers.

Collateral on SBA Disaster Loans
To date, SBA has approved 52 Gulf Coast oil spill-related Economic Injury Disaster Loans totaling $2.2 million. SBA has indicated that it will accept the "best available" collateral from businesses seeking disaster loans. This collateral could include personal real estate, equipment, or business property.

Landrieu presses SBA to examine different types of collateral that could be used and to not further burden businesses that are now, in some cases, facing their second or third disaster since 2005. She also urges SBA to coordinate with BP for borrowers interested in putting up their BP claims as collateral towards these disaster loans.

Reimbursement from BP
The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, established by the Oil Pollution Act, is available to reimburse federal agencies for operations related to response and compensation provisions after an oil spill. The SBA has increased its staff by 125 employees to respond to this disaster, and set up 28 Business Recovery Centers in the Gulf Coast. Landrieu requests that SBA contact BP to receive appropriate compensation.

Similarly, as the SBA disburses Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses and fishermen in impacted states, the agency should also seek reimbursement from BP for these loan amounts.

Lastly, local Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs] are currently assisting businesses with both the BP claims process and SBA disaster loan process. Landrieu pushes for SBA, in coordination with the SBDCs, to seek compensation from BP for these services being provided as a result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

On May 27, 2010, the Small Business Committee held a hearing on the impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on Gulf Coast small businesses. In that hearing, the Committee heard from members of the U.S. Coast Guard and federal agencies on the claims process and assistance available to small businesses.

To date, the SBA has approved 52 Economic Injury Disaster Loans. BP indicated at that hearing that they had received over 26,000 claims -- of which 12,000 claims have been paid -- totaling $36 million. To view complete coverage of the May 27th hearing, please visit: http://bit.ly/OilSpillHearingSBC.

On Thursday, June 17th, the Committee will hold a hearing highlighting the contracting process for proposals for the oil spill cleanup. Live video from the hearing can be viewed at http://sbc.senate.gov/.

To view a copy of Landrieu's letter, please go to: http://bit.ly/LetterOilDisaster.

Resources
For information about disaster-related contracting possibilities, visit SBA's Disaster Contracting Assistance Center: http://bit.ly/DisasterDCAC.

To glean consolidated information about federally funded government assistance to help all disaster victims -- e.g., businesses, families, individuals -- visit the new, one-stop DisasterAssistance.gov website: http://bit.ly/DisasterAssistance.

Anyone with damages to their business or home resulting from a declared disaster can apply for financial assistance via SBA's Disaster Assistance Electronic Loan Application: http://bit.ly/DisasterAssistELA.

GoodBiz113's Take
Want to help, uh, fuel economic development in the Gulf Coast? Hold your next business meeting, convention, family reunion and/or vacation in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida. Check out SouthCoast USA for ideas on planning your next trip there: http://www.southcoastusa.com/.

SOURCE: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
____________________

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DHS Secretary Napolitano Announces New Standards for Private-Sector Preparedness

Department of Homeland Security [DHS] Secretary Janet Napolitano [pictured] today announced the adoption of the final standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program [PS-Prep] -- a major milestone in DHS' implementation of a program recommended by the 9/11 Commission to improve private-sector preparedness for disasters and emergencies.

"Private organizations across the country -- from businesses to universities to non-profit organizations -- have a vital role to play in bolstering our disaster preparedness and response capabilities," said Secretary Napolitano. "These new standards will provide our private-sector partners with the tools they need to enhance the readiness and resiliency of our nation."

PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.

The standards -- developed by the National Fire Protection Association [NFPA], the British Standards Institution [BSI] and ASIS International -- were published for public comment in the Federal Register in Oct. 2009. The adoption of the final standards was published in a Federal Register notice today, following a series of regional public meetings and the incorporation of public comments.

DHS will continue to accept comments on PS-Prep, the three adopted standards, and/or proposals to adopt any other similar standard that satisfies the target criteria of the December 2008 Federal Register notice, which announced the program.

Comments may be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov/ or FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov, in Docket ID FEMA-2008-0017.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PrivateSectorPrep.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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Monday, June 14, 2010

SBA-Backed Lending Tops $29 Billion, Thanks to Recovery Act Funds

The U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] received $730 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA] to help unlock the small-business lending market and get capital flowing again to America’s small businesses. Due to the success of these programs, the SBA has received an additional $305 million to continue some ARRA programs through May.

SBA Recovery Efforts -- Impact to Date
* SBA Has Supported More Than $29 Billion in Recovery Loans to Small Businesses: As of June 11, SBA had supported $29 billion-plus in small-business lending, with the approval of $21.7 billion in Recovery loans since Feb. 17. From Feb. 17, 2009 to June 11, 2010, weekly SBA loan dollar volumes rose more than 90 percent in the 7[a] and 504 loan programs, compared to the weekly average before passage.

* More Lenders Making Loans: From Feb. 17, 2009 to June 11, 2010, more than 1,354 lenders who had not made a loan since at least 2007, made a 7[a] loan.

* Broad Support to Businesses: A significant share of Recovery loans have gone to rural [24 percent], minority-owned [20 percent], women-owned [18 percent], and veteran-owned [8 percent] businesses.

* Secondary Markets Uptick with 7[a] Loans: After months of reduced activity and lower premiums, the SBA 7[a] secondary market is picking up, and premiums are beginning to recover. From June to May, the average monthly loan volume settled from lenders to broker-dealers in the 7[a] secondary market has been $330 million, providing lenders with additional liquidity to increase lending.

* America's Recovery Capital [ARC] Loans Helping Small Businesses: As of June 11, SBA had approved 7,776 ARC loans -- totaling over $251.7 million by 1,258 lenders -- to help small businesses make it through this tough economy.

SBA Recovery Programs
To date, SBA has implemented programs for all of the $730 million in SBA Recovery Act funding, plus an additional $305 million provided in December, February, March and April for the agency’s lending programs -- including:

* Eliminating and reducing fees for borrowers on 7[a] loans, and for borrowers and lenders on 504 loans;

* Raising to 90 percent the guarantee on 7(a) loans -- from 75 or 85 percent, depending on the size of loan;

* Doubling the surety bond guarantee from $2 million to $5 million, providing small businesses with another tool to help them compete for federal construction and service contracts;

* Assisting struggling small businesses with the new ARC loan program, which provides no-interest, deferred-repayment loans of up to $35,000 to viable businesses to help them make debt payments;

* Providing refinancing opportunities for certain eligible loans into SBA-backed 504 loans for expansion and job creation;

* Expanding access to investment capital for small businesses by increasing funding levels for SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies [SBICs]; and

* Taking steps to ensure the stability of the secondary market for SBA loans.

The SBA has also implemented two new programs that complement the ARRA measures and increase access to capital for small businesses by:
* Expanding 7[a] loan eligibility to more than 70,000 small businesses through a temporary alternate size standard; and

* Offering inventory financing for eligible auto, RV, boat and other dealerships under the new Dealer Floor Plan Financing pilot program.

To learn more about how SBA and the Recovery Act are helping small businesses succeed throughout America, go to: http://bit.ly/SuccessStoriesSBA.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Friday, June 11, 2010

President Obama on Removing Barriers for Small Business: 'We Have to Keep Moving Forward'

This morning, President Barack Obama met with several small-business owners and executives to discuss the economic challenges they face. Among his Oval Office visitors: Prachee J. Devadas, president & CEO, Synergy Enterprises Inc.; Anand A. Devadas, vice president of corporate operations, Synergy Enterprises Inc.; Bobby Pancake and Steve Wheat, partners of High 5 LLC, a franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings; and Terry Haney, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar in Dover, Del.

Afterward, President Obama and his guests [pictured above] went out to the Rose Garden, where he called on Congress to pass legislation to provide new tax credits and lending incentives that will help small businesses grow and create new jobs. Following, is an excerpt from his speech:

"From the middle of 2007 to the end of 2008, small businesses lost 2.4 million jobs," Obama noted. "And because banks shrunk from lending in the midst of this financial crisis, it’s been particularly difficult for small-business owners to take out loans to open up shop or expand. It’s been hard to finance inventories and payroll and new equipment.

"Now, I’ve said before and I’ll repeat, government can’t guarantee success for these companies. But it can knock down barriers that prevent owners from getting loans. Government can’t create private-sector jobs. But it can create the conditions for small businesses like these to grow and to hire more people. That’s what’s guided much of our economic agenda.

"So let me be specific. Last year, we enacted seven tax cuts for America’s small business -- seven tax cuts. So far, the Recovery Act has supported over 68,000 loans to small businesses, which translates into nearly $29 billion in new lending.

"More than 1,300 banks and credit unions that had not made SBA loans since before the financial crisis are now lending again. More than $8 billion in federal Recovery Act contracts are now going to small businesses. In fact, Prachee has been able to add 20 part-time and full-time workers because of the Recovery Act.

"In addition, as a result of a bill I signed into law a few months ago, businesses are now eligible for tax cuts when they hire -- when they hire unemployed workers, they're eligible for tax cuts. Companies are also able to write off more of their investments in new equipment.

"And, as part of the health reform package, 4 million small-business owners recently received a postcard in their mailboxes from the IRS, and it was actually good news: It told them that they could be eligible for a health-care tax credit this year that could be worth perhaps tens of thousands of dollars to these small businesses.

"So these and other steps are making a difference. Little more than a year ago, the economy was in freefall. Today, it’s growing again. Little more than a year ago, the economy was losing an average of 750,000 jobs per month. It’s now been adding jobs for five months in a row.

"But even though we are in the process of digging ourselves out of this recession, we’re still in a pretty deep hole. Millions of our family members, our friends, our neighbors are still looking for work -- they're still faced with the prospects of long-term unemployment. Credit is still less available than it should be, particularly to small businesses.

"As small-business owners like Prachee and Bobby and Steve will tell you, we may be recovering but we’re not yet recovered. We have to keep moving forward.

"And that’s why I’m urging Congress to swiftly approve a set of tax breaks and lending incentives to spur hiring and growth at small businesses. The legislation that's being debated right now would eliminate capital-gains taxes for small investment -- for investments in small firms, which will help move capital to these companies across America. It will provide tax relief to small start-ups to encourage folks to open up businesses, as well.

"To foster more credit, the package would create the small-business lending fund I proposed in my State of the Union address, to help underwrite loans through community banks. And we’d create a new state small-business credit initiative, because states facing budget shortfalls are scaling back lending to small firms and manufacturers; that's working against our recovery. I’m also urging Congress to expand and extend successful SBA programs -- by increasing loan limits, for example -- something that could benefit people like Bobby and Steve.

"In fact, since the start of my administration, we’ve been hearing from small businesses that want to retain and hire more employees, but they need additional credit. And we’ve been hearing from small community banks that want to lend more to small businesses, but they need additional capital. So this bill helps fulfill both needs. And to help us create jobs without adding to our deficit, we’re making the tough choices to pay for these proposals.

"So I’m hopeful that the House will pass these measures next week, and that the Senate will follow as soon as possible -- with both support from Democrats and Republicans. And I’m eager to sign this tax relief and additional lending into law. That’s how we can continue to move our economy forward -- to continue on the path from recession to recovery, but also, ultimately, to prosperity."

To view a video of today's Rose Garden event, including President Obama's entire speech, go to: http://bit.ly/SmallBizBarriers.

SOURCES: HealthReform.gov, IRS.gov, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House [photo]
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Monday, June 07, 2010

SBA's Recovery Act-Related Small-Business Lending Tops $28.6 Billion

The U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] received $730 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA] to help unlock the small business-lending market and get capital flowing again to America’s small businesses. Due to the success of these programs, the SBA has received an additional $305 million to continue some ARRA programs through May.

SBA Recovery Efforts -- Impact to Date
* SBA Has Supported More Than $28 Billion in Recovery Loans to Small Businesses: As of June 4, SBA had supported more than $28.6 billion in small-business lending, with the approval of $21.5 billion in Recovery loans since Feb. 17. From Feb. 17, 2009 to June 4, 2010, weekly SBA loan dollar volumes rose more than 90 percent in the 7[a] and 504 loan programs, compared to the weekly average before passage.

* More Lenders Making Loans: From Feb. 17, 2009 to May 28, 2010, more than 1,347 lenders who had not made a loan since at least 2007, made a 7[a] loan.

* Broad Support to Businesses: A significant share of Recovery loans have gone to rural [24 percent], minority-owned [21 percent], women-owned [18 percent], and veteran-owned [8 percent] businesses.

* Secondary Markets Uptick with 7[a] Loans: After months of reduced activity and lower premiums, the SBA 7[a] secondary market is picking up and premiums are beginning to recover. From June to May, the average monthly loan volume settled from lenders to broker-dealers in the 7[a] secondary market has been $330 million, providing lenders with additional liquidity to increase lending.

* America's Recovery Capital [ARC] Loans Helping Small Businesses: As of June 4, SBA has approved 7,711 ARC loans, totaling over $249 million by 1,255 lenders, to help small businesses make it through this tough economy.

SBA Recovery Programs
To date, SBA has implemented programs for all of the $730 million in SBA Recovery Act funding, plus an additional $305 million provided in December, February, March and April for the agency’s lending programs -- including:

* Eliminating and reducing fees for borrowers on 7[a] loans, and for borrowers and lenders on 504 loans;

* Raising to 90 percent the guarantee on 7[a] loans -- from 75 or 85 percent, depending on the size of loan;

* Doubling the surety bond guarantee from $2 million to $5 million, providing small businesses with another tool to help them compete for federal construction and service contracts;

* Assisting struggling small businesses with the new ARC loan program, which provides no-interest, deferred-repayment loans of up to $35,000 to viable businesses to help them make debt payments;

* Providing refinancing opportunities for certain eligible loans into SBA-backed 504 loans for expansion and job creation;

* Expanding access to investment capital for small businesses by increasing funding levels for SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies [SBICs]; and

* Taking steps to ensure the stability of the secondary market for SBA loans.

The SBA has also implemented two new programs that complement the ARRA measures and increase access to capital for small businesses by:

* Expanding 7[a] loan eligibility to more than 70,000 small businesses through a temporary alternate size standard; and

* Offering inventory financing for eligible auto, RV, boat and other dealerships under the new Dealer Floor Plan Financing pilot program.

To learn more about how SBA and the Recovery Act are helping small businesses succeed throughout the U.S., go to: http://bit.ly/SuccessStoriesSBA.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Friday, June 04, 2010

Social Artist-Entrepreneur George Rodrigue and His 'Save the Gulf' Sculpture Featured in New Orleans Times-Picayune

Today, GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"] made the front page of the East Jefferson section of the New Orleans Times-Picayune -- along with his new "Save the Gulf" sculpture, featuring the iconic Blue Dog himself.

Check it out at George's Facebook page: http://bit.ly/SaveTheGulf. Oh, and please be sure to leave a comment for our favorite socially conscious artist :)

For the latest events and good deeds happening via his far-reaching George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts [GRFA], visit http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

SOURCE: George Rodrigue Studio
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May Labor Report Shows Fifth Consecutive Month of Employment Growth; Private Sector Has Added 495,000 Jobs Since December

Data released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] show that job growth, while slow, is consistently on the upswing. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in May, reflecting the hiring of 411,000 temporary workers for Census 2010. The unemployment rate edged down to 9.7 percent. Private-sector employment showed little change over the month [+41,000], but has increased by 495,000 since December.

"These numbers indicate that the steps this administration has taken over the past year have put the American economy on the right track," said U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. "The most recent estimates from the Council of Economic Advisers [CEA] indicate that the Recovery Act saved or created between 2.2 and 2.8 million jobs through the first quarter of 2010, and helped raise gross domestic product for a third straight quarter. The economy has added jobs in six of the last seven months.

"While we are encouraged to see the economy strengthening and employers starting to hire again, we recognize more work has to be done to ensure every American who wants a job has access to a good job. For the millions of Americans who have struggled to find work in the last year, the economy is still in a recession. As the president said on Wednesday, '[This] will not be a real recovery until people can feel it in their own lives.' The administration is continuing to work with Congress to provide further support that will ensure a rapid recovery.

"We continue to push for programs to help unemployed workers make it through this difficult time. Extending expiring unemployment benefits and health coverage is vital. I call on Congress to extend the unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidy provisions in the Recovery Act through the end of the year. The President has called on Congress to expand the clean-energy manufacturing tax credit, and to help small businesses with tax cuts and a lending fund to help them get the credit they need to create jobs.

"The Department of Labor also has taken important steps to invest in programs that retrain and prepare unemployed workers with the skills and knowledge for 21st century jobs in emerging industries like clean and renewable energy, health care and information technology.

"Many of these programs have been targeted toward populations with the greatest barriers to re-employment and areas with high levels of poverty. Recently, the department made available $90 million to the states for on-the-job training to help displaced workers gain job skills and experiences that will help them secure future employment.

"The economy and jobs situation will continue to be our No. 1 focus in the year ahead. We clearly have much more work to do to get Americans back to work, and the Department of Labor is committed to helping get our country back on track.”

CEA Chair Christina Romer shared her wide-angle view of the just-released jobs numbers. "The fact that the unemployment rate fell and private employment rose are obviously encouraging signs that recovery continues," she noted. "At the same time, the continued high level of unemployment and the slowdown in private-sector job growth emphasize the need for continuing vigilance...

"As always, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report, positive or negative. The monthly employment and unemployment numbers are volatile and subject to substantial revision. Emphasis should be placed on persistent trends, rather than month-to-month fluctuations."

GoodBiz113's Take
Growth is growth. You can focus on the fact that our nation's unemployment rate is at 9.7 percent, or you can breathe a little easier that employment numbers are gradually trending upward.

We're sharing the glass-is-half-full perspective of GoodBiz113 profilee Life is good® ["Life is good® Festivals Unite Communities, Help Kids Face Unfair Challenges"], who -- just this morning, in fact -- tweeted this timely post: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

Regardless of what the weather does in your corner of the universe, have a sunny weekend :)

SOURCES: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council of Economic Advisers [chart], U.S. Department of Labor, The White House
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Thursday, June 03, 2010

SBA Supports More Than $28.4 Billion in Small-Business Lending

The U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] received $730 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA] to help unlock the small-business lending market and get capital flowing again to America’s small businesses. Due to the success of these programs, the SBA received an additional $305 million to continue some ARRA programs through May.

SBA Recovery Efforts -- Impact to Date
* SBA Supports More Than $28 Billion in Recovery Loans to Small Businesses: As of May 28, SBA had supported $28.4 billion-plus in small-business lending, with the approval of $21.4 billion in Recovery loans since Feb. 17, 2009. From Feb. 17, 2009, to May 28, 2010, weekly SBA loan dollar volumes rose more than 90 percent in the 7[a] and 504 programs, compared to the weekly average before passage.

* More Lenders Making Loans: From Feb. 17, 2009, to May 28, 2010, more than 1,321 lenders who had not made a loan since at least 2007, made at least one 7[a] loan.

* Broad Support to Businesses: A significant share of Recovery loans have gone to rural [24 percent], minority-owned [21 percent], women-owned [18 percent], and veteran-owned [8 percent] businesses.

* Secondary Markets Uptick With 7[a] Loans: After months of reduced activity and lower premiums, the SBA 7[a] secondary market is picking up and premiums are beginning to recover. From June to May, the average monthly loan volume settled from lenders to broker-dealers in the 7[a] secondary market has been $330 million, providing lenders with additional liquidity to increase lending.

* America's Recovery Capital [ARC] Loans Helping Small Businesses: As of May 28, SBA has approved 7,658 ARC loans totaling more than $248 million by 1,250 lenders, to help small businesses make it through this tough economy.

SBA Recovery Programs
To date, SBA has implemented programs for all of the $730 million in SBA Recovery Act funding -- plus an additional $305 million provided in December, February, March, and April for the agency’s lending programs -- including:

* Eliminating and reducing fees for borrowers on 7[a] loans, and for borrowers and lenders on 504 loans;

* Raising to 90 percent the guarantee on 7[a] loans from 75 or 85 percent, depending on the size of loan;

* Doubling the surety bond guarantee from $2 million to $5 million, providing small businesses with another tool to help them compete for federal construction and service contracts;

* Assisting struggling small businesses with the new ARC loan program, which provides no-interest, deferred-repayment loans of up to $35,000 to viable businesses to help them make debt payments;

* Providing refinancing opportunities for certain eligible loans into SBA-backed 504 loans for expansion and job creation;

* Expanding access to investment capital for small businesses by increasing funding levels for SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies [SBICs]; and

* Taking steps to ensure the stability of the secondary market for SBA loans.

The SBA has also implemented two new programs that complement the ARRA measures and increase access to capital for small businesses by:

* Expanding 7[a] loan eligibility to more than 70,000 small businesses through a temporary alternate size standard; and

* Offering inventory financing for eligible auto, RV, boat and other dealerships under the new Dealer Floor Plan Financing pilot program.

To learn about how SBA and the Recovery Act are helping small businesses succeed throughout the nation, go to: http://bit.ly/SuccessStoriesSBA.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
____________________

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Tonight: President Barack Obama on 'Larry King Live'

This evening, Larry King, who's celebrating 25 years hosting CNN's popular "Larry King Live" show, interviews President Barack Obama. Among the topics discussed: immigration, economic recovery, health-care tax credits for small businesses, the BP environmental disaster [AKA "oil spill"], plus myriad other challenges that President Obama faces in what he calls "the best job on Earth."

Later, Bob Woodward, New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist of the Washington Post, weighs in on President Obama's first 500 days in office. Woodward's yet-to-be-titled book on the Obama administration will be released in September.

To watch a sneak-preview video clip of tonight's show, go to: http://bit.ly/ObamaKing25.

To watch the entire program, tune in to CNN at 9 p.m. ET.

SOURCES: CNN, The White House [photo by Lawrence Jackson]
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Rodrigue Releases Timely 'Emerald Coast' Silkscreen

News reports abound about the BP oil-spill disaster drifting along the Gulf Coast toward Florida's historically pristine beaches. Some sources speculate that the slick could hit shore within days, while others hold that it'll be weeks before the oily mess reaches the Sunshine State.

Meanwhile, GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"], who's not exactly new to facing catastrophes head-on, has just released a piece to simultaneously remind folks of brighter, cleaner and safer days past -- and to subtly warn us about seemingly imminent environmental, economic and health threats.

"The Emerald Coast" [pictured above], an original silkscreen measuring 16x38, is available in a signed and numbered edition of 90. Prints are priced at $1,800, and will likely be available for shipment during the week of July 1.

Glimpse Rodrigue's new work at Rodrigue's Facebook page, and please be sure to leave a comment for our favorite artist-philanthropist-activist-entrepreneur: http://bit.ly/EmeraldCoast.

For the latest events and good deeds happening via the far-reaching George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts: Youth Development Through Art in Education [GRFA], visit http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

If you're a small-business owner in need of disaster assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] has resources available: http://bit.ly/DisasterHelpSBA.

SOURCE: George Rodrigue Studio
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