On MSNBC, Senator Landrieu Discusses Need for Small-Business Innovation to Help Close Deficit and Create Jobs

This morning, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured lower right] appeared on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe."

As debate over the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 continues on the Senate floor, Sen. Landrieu discussed how reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technical Transfer [STTR] programs will aid in efforts to close the deficit and create jobs.

To view the video clip, go to: http://bit.ly/LandrieuYouTube.

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, MSNBC, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, YouTube
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Happy Independence Day!

My goodness. The media scene -- Web 2.0/social, traditional, etc. -- is very busy today, with heartfelt greetings, stories and insights from folks of all political and professional stripes.

First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off the day with an early-morning post on the White House Blog, encouraging all Americans to support military families in any way they can. You can view her video message here: http://bit.ly/July4FLOTUS.

Then, just minutes later, today's "CBS Sunday Morning" cover story featured Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton discussing The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, a U.S. State Department diplomacy program that sends musical ambassadors across the globe. To learn about how 10 groups of highly talented U.S. musicians are helping to promote cross-cultural understanding around the world, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/O4V.

Following that, master marketer, consultant and best-selling author Chris Brogan shared a thought-provoking piece on what it means to him to live and work independently. Take a few minutes to read and reflect on "A Day of Independence" here: http://bit.ly/agr9uQ.

Last, but not least, artist-philanthropist-activist-entrepreneur George Rodrigue, a GoodBiz113 profilee ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"], sent us a brief July 4th salute -- "Happy Independence Day" -- and illustrated it with "Stripes" [pictured above], a silkscreen he created in 1996. For the latest events and good deeds happening via his far-reaching George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts: Youth Development Through Art in Education [GRFA], please visit http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

We're off to enjoy the day -- but not before leaving a message for y'all...

Thanks for reading GoodBiz113. Your continued support of our publishing endeavor is greatly appreciated.

Best wishes to you and yours for a safe, fun and meaningful Independence Day 2010.

SOURCES: CBS News, ChrisBrogan.com, George Rodrigue Studio, U.S. State Department, The White House
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Please Help the American Red Cross Help Military Families -- Via a Generous Gift to Red Cross Services to Armed Forces.

Google's Economic Impact on U.S. Businesses in 2009: $54 Billion

This morning, in honor of National Small Business Week, Google officials were in Washington, D.C., to unveil a first-time-ever report detailing the company's economic impact in all 50 states. The company's total contribution: a whopping $54 billion.

As GoodBiz113 reported earlier this month ["Google, SBA Launch 'Tools for Online Success' Partnership"], Google has partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration in a big way to help America's small businesses grow. This report shows that the innovative tech company has helped hundreds of businesses in every U.S. state move closer to achieving their financial goals.

"People think of Google first and foremost as a search engine, but it’s also an engine of economic growth," blogs Claire Hughes Johnson, vice president of Google's Global Online Sales [pictured]. "In our report, we’re announcing that, in 2009, we generated a total of $54 billion of economic activity for American businesses, website publishers and non-profits.

"Over the years, people have asked us whether we could quantify our economic impact on a state level, and we’re pleased to do that for the first time with this report, which you can download at google.com/economicimpact.

"In a time of tighter budgets and a slow economic recovery, we’re glad to support so many small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country by helping them find new customers more efficiently and monetize their websites through targeted advertising...

"The report is filled with really wonderful stories about the direct economic impact that AdWords, AdSense, Google Grants and our search engine have across the country. These are the stories of entrepreneurs across the country growing their businesses with Google. And, this morning, Googlers are hosting events in 10 other cities across the country -- Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Oakland, Portland [Ore.], Raleigh and Seattle -- to help share those stories. Ladies and gentlemen, start your economic engines!"

To download a copy of the report and/or find a clickable map to see Google's economic impact in your state, go to http://www.google.com/economicimpact/.

To view a video of Ms. Johnson and Hal Varian, Google's chief economist, discussing specifics about how the company compiled numbers for its eye-opening report, go to: http://bit.ly/GoogleImpact2009.

SOURCE: Google Inc.
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'Hope For Haiti Now' Telethon Tally Tops $57 Million; Digital Album No. 2 on Amazon

Friday night's star-studded "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon -- simulcast on several network and cable television stations across the globe -- has, thus far, generated more than $57 million to help bring relief to Haitians after the massive 7.0 earthquake hit the capital of Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12. Donations have poured in via phone, text messages, online and post.

Thanks to the wonders of technology, the "Hope for Haiti Now" global telethon is already available as an extraordinary digital album -- including fantastic performances by Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, The Roots, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Beyoncé, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Sexton, Jennifer Hudson, Emeline Michel, Bono, The Edge, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, and Wyclef Jean. As of this morning, the MP3 album ranked No. 2 on Amazon.

Via digital video, you can also own the entire two-hour Hope for Haiti Now global telethon, hosted by George Clooney, CNN's Anderson Cooper, and Wyclef Jean -- including all of the musical performances.

All proceeds from album and video sales will go to American Red Cross, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation.

Take Action Now
This is the time for all of us -- corporations, small businesses, individuals, fundraising groups -- to step up and help the people of Haiti get the clean water, food, blankets, tents, medical supplies and assistance they need. Know that, when you do, 100 percent of the funds raised will go towards relief efforts in Haiti, and that there are NO backend costs whatsoever.

* Donate now: https://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/

* Download the "Hope For Haiti Now" MP3 album [$7.99]: http://bit.ly/HopeForHaitiNowAlbum

* Watch the "Hope For Haiti Now" video [$2.99]: http://bit.ly/HopeForHaitiNowVideo

SOURCES: Amazon, CNN, Hope For Haiti Now, MTV Networks
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Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Haiti. Click Here to View Charity Navigator's List of Top-Rated Relief Charities Working in Haiti.

CEA Chair Christina Romer, Ph.D.: Health Insurance Reform Will Benefit Small Business -- Not Burden It

"Whether or not you have health insurance right now, the reforms we seek will bring stability and security that you don't have today. This isn't about politics. This is about people's lives. This is about people's businesses. This is about our future." -- President Barack Obama

As misinformation about health-care-reform proposals virally spews from the shameless likes of the National Federation of Independent Business, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other counterproductive entities so intent on maintaining the inert status quo, the White House has released a Health Insurance Reform Reality Check. The website features videos of eight key people providing personal, professional and, above all, factual accounts of just how, exactly, health insurance reform will truly benefit Americans.

While all of the videotaped accounts are credible, concise and well worth anyone's time in gleaning valuable firsthand information about proposed health insurance reform, GoodBiz113 readers will likely be most interested in the segment featuring Christina Romer, Ph.D., chair of the Council of Economic Advisers [CEA].

In her three-minute testimonial, Dr. Romer debunks the myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, she notes, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

To watch Dr. Romer's videotaped account and/or read the transcript, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/21.

Get the facts about the stability and security you get from health insurance reform: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/.
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House Committee Calls for Sweeping Reforms to SBIR Program; Velázquez Critiques President Bush's Final State of the Union Address

As the specter of a recession looms, small-business innovation becomes an increasingly vital asset to our economy. It was technology startups, after all, that led the way back to growth during our last slowdown.

During a hearing on the Small Business Innovation and Research [SBIR] program today, witnesses underscored its importance in ensuring American competitiveness. They also offered compelling evidence of a need to reform various parts of the initiative.

"SBIR is the largest government-wide research and development program, and it has helped turn some of the nation’s best ideas into tangible market realities," said Rep. Nydia Velázquez [D-N.Y.], chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business. "Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are still not getting the access to the R&D funds they need. That puts them at great disadvantage and robs our economy of the type of innovation we require most."

The SBIR was created by Congress in 1982, and is scheduled to sunset on Sept. 30, 2008. Throughout its history, the program has used small firms to help federal agencies meet their R&D goals. It has also fostered considerable technological innovation and prompted the commercialization of resulting products and services. However, as technology and national priorities change, the initiative is failing to keep pace.

"Even in a challenging economy, SBIR has helped small firms create jobs and wealth. We must continue to strengthen this program and align its focus with today’s technological realities," said Velázquez.

When the SBIR Reauthorization Act of 2000 was passed, technologies such as wireless communications, high definition television and hybrid cars were still in relative infancy. While that law made several modifications, the program is in need of further modernization. Witnesses also pointed to a need for increasing SBIR grants; suggested streamlining the application process; and called for greater flexibility to allow participating firms to leverage private-sector funds.

"One sure way to keep the American economy on the right track is to reform this initiative with an emphasis on providing resources for economically viable technologies," Velázquez noted. "We should increase competition within SBIR, ensure that awards go to projects that will produce the greatest return for taxpayers, and do everything possible to help today’s small firms bring forth tomorrow’s goods and services."

Click link for video clips of today's full committee hearing.

For the list of witnesses and their testimonies, click here.

Velázquez: President Bush’s Final State of the Union Speech Falls Short on Proposals to Help Small Firms Spur the Economy

President George W. Bush delivered his final State of the Union address last night, and spoke about the bipartisan economic stimulus plan that Democrats negotiated on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs and working families. The $147 billion stimulus package is meant to spur the lagging economy, and includes short-term provisions to help small businesses. These include a one-year doubling of the capital expensing limit from $125,000 to $250,000, and an opportunity to write off 50 percent of depreciation for certain equipment purchases in 2008.

All are steps in the right direction, Velázquez observed, but President Bush needed to have spoken about long-term support for the 26.8 million small firms that comprise the economic engine of the United States. He mentioned small businesses only once, and those who tuned into his speech were left wondering if the final 50 weeks of his administration will be just like his first seven years—full of empty promises.

"The president has missed yet another opportunity to address the long-term concerns of small-business owners," said Velázquez. "In the face of a recession, it is clear that it is Democrats who will do whatever is necessary to help American entrepreneurs."

Several of the top concerns of small firms were particularly suspect in their absence from the president’s speech. He failed to adequately broach such items as health care, energy costs and the need for affordable capital.

"Everyone is feeling the credit crunch and rising costs, but entrepreneurs are being hit particularly hard," Velázquez noted. "That harms their ability to grow their businesses, and robs the economy of their full contributions.

"The president said we should empower people to grow the economy. Unfortunately, his State of the Union address failed to lay out a vision to do that."

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. House Committee on Small Business, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House [photo]

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