SBA Introduces New Mobile Application for Small-Business Owners, Entrepreneurs

Smartphone users interested in starting or growing a small business can now find helpful resources at their fingertips via a new SBA mobile application from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"Increasingly, smartphones are the vehicle through which Americans access information," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "This is certainly true of many entrepreneurs and small-business owners, and this new application ensures they will have access to SBA’s resources and programs -- literally, at their fingertips.

"Greater mobility fits with the new user-focused SBA.gov launched recently, and is another example of the steps we are taking to do a better job of connecting entrepreneurs and small-business owners with the tools to help them start or grow their businesses and create jobs."

Developed and donated as a gift by Palo Alto Software Inc., the SBA mobile app will make the search for extensive resources more efficient -- whether users are starting a new business, or taking an existing business to a new level. The app will first be available for the Apple iPhone®, with future versions for other smartphone platforms.

"Palo Alto Software’s mission is to help small businesses succeed," said Sabrina Parsons [pictured], CEO of Palo Alto Software. "We’ve developed this mobile application for the SBA because we understand the importance of having the right tools and resources when starting or growing a business.

"Ideas can strike entrepreneurs at any moment, and having useful resources available through mobile devices could be the impetus that begins the next big company."

The mobile app will help users connect with SBA district office staff and SBA-affiliated counselors and mentors who can provide free, personalized small-business assistance. The user-friendly format of the app will help answer questions such as: How do I start a business? Where can I go in my area to get free help with writing a business plan? And where do I begin finding funding for my business?

The SBA mobile app also features a built-in startup cost calculator to help estimate the costs associated with getting a business off the ground, plus an SBA partner locator to help users find SBA offices, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SCORE.

Users will also have mobile access to SBA video content and social media alerts to provide them with tips on the go. This will include live updates from the SBA’s YouTube channel and from SBA’s Twitter feeds.

SBA's free mobile app can be downloaded from the agency’s website at http://1.usa.gov/MobileSBA.

SOURCES: Palo Alto Software Inc. [photo], U.S. Small Business Administration
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SBA Offers New Podcasts to Help Small Businesses Break Into the Global Market

The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering a new set of three export-oriented podcasts offering valuable information on issues and challenges that small-business exporters may face when dealing with specific countries.

The podcasts, featuring interviews with business representatives from Uganda, Cameroon and Bahrain, are part of a comprehensive effort by SBA to promote and support President Barack Obama’s National Export Initiative. The interviews focus on what U.S. companies can expect when exporting to those countries, and provide information relevant to their respective business and import environments.

"U.S. small businesses looking to increase sales and profit should look beyond the U.S. borders," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured]. "Nearly 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S., and small businesses need to factor that in to their strategic planning. We’re hoping these tools will help them do that, so they can grow and create jobs here at home."

The podcasts on Uganda and Cameroon include interviews with two women business owners who are members of the Africa Business Women Network, an organization that supports a network of businesswomen’s organizations in Africa. The podcast on Bahrain features an interview with an official of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The podcasts are available online at http://bit.ly/PodcastsExportsSBA, and include transcripts. They provide valuable information on country infrastructure, types of U.S. products and services in demand, cultural tips on how to do business, plus other relevant issues.

In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 27, 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative as part of an effort to promote and achieve long-term, sustainable economic growth for the United States. The President has a goal of doubling exports over the next five years -- an increase that will support 2 million American jobs. The SBA is committed to supporting NEI by offering American small businesses the resources they need to break into, and succeed in, the global market.

In addition to the new online tools, SBA resource partners Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE -- as well as U.S. Export Assistance Centers -- are available to assist small businesses that are interested in exporting in every U.S. state and territory.

These resource partners can help entrepreneurs identify potential export markets; facilitate export transactions; develop links between United States small-business and pre-screened foreign buyers; advise on participation in international trade shows; assist in obtaining export financing; and developing or re-orienting marketing and production strategies.

In addition to counseling resources in every state and territory, there are export specialists available at the eight International Trade Export Assistance Centers, plus SCORE online international trade advisers.

There are 19 U.S. Export Assistance Centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. USEACs are one-stop shops ready to provide small- or medium-sized businesses with personalized local export assistance by professionals from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. For more information about USEACs, go to http://bit.ly/USEAC.

To find your local small-business counseling resources, please visit http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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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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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.

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SOURCE: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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SBA Awards Grants to Help Veteran Small-Business Owners

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the award of grants to 10 local SBA Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs] to increase entrepreneurial assistance to veterans. The grants will provide approximately $1 million to fund programs for veterans that promote business ownership, and provide services to small businesses dealing with the deployment of key personnel overseas.

Each SBDC receiving funds will promote increased coordination of services to veterans, and will use multimedia tools to connect veterans through distance learning and customized online business counseling by providing services to reach the local veteran business community. Five of the centers were previously awarded grant funds to provide these services, and will now receive a second year of funding. Five centers will receive grant funds for the first time.

The five SBDCs receiving a second year of funding are located at the Research Foundation at the State University of New York; University of Arkansas at Little Rock; University of Kentucky Research Foundation in Lexington; University of Texas at San Antonio; and George Mason University in Virginia.

The five first-time grant recipients include SBDCs located at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade; University of Southern Maine; University of Nebraska at Omaha; Southeastern Oklahoma State University; and Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore.

These SBDCs were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants based on the range of services they could provide to veterans, and will provide the services as listed below:

* The Arkansas SBDC developed ArkansasVeteran.com as a one-stop virtual veterans’ center, providing information about health, education, employment, entrepreneurship and family issues. This portal links federal, state and local resources available to veterans. Several colleges and universities have joined in this initiative and offer free online courses to veterans through the site. The Arkansas SBDC also joins other veteran organizations to provide transition assistance for deployment, as well as for transition back to civilian life.

* The Kentucky SBDC created kyvetbiz.com to provide veterans with information about the services available through the Kentucky SBDC and other organizations that assist veterans. The portal provides online business courses in English and in Spanish; lists events and workshops occurring statewide; has a blog on popular topics for veteran business owners; and links federal, state and local resources available to veterans. The Kentucky SBDC is also active in veterans’ transition events.

* The New York State SBDC created a special "Veterans’ Business Services" Web page at http://bit.ly/NYSSBDCVeterans that links available services to veterans in the state, and also to federal, state and local resources. Online training and business development are also available from the site. The program director participates in seminars for veterans throughout the state, and plans events tailored to veterans.

* The San Antonio SBDC, through its newly created website, http://vasp.txsbdc.org/, is a one-stop reference for veterans and military personnel who are new entrepreneurs or small-business owners. It provides self-assessment tools, online counseling, distance learning, Web-based assessments, government contracting assistance, business planning and startup assistance, and help with preparation of applications for bank loans and financing. The website connects the resources of federal, state, and local entities that are available to veterans.

* The Virginia SBDC created http://www.vetbizresourcecenter.com/, which contains easy-access video guides for veteran business owners and prospective business owners covering a wide range of subjects -- such as transitioning from the military to business, preparing for deployment, financing, and contracting opportunities. The site links vets and reservists to other federal, state and local resources available to veterans. The Virginia SBDC also participates inveterans' conferences and events.

* The State of Colorado SBDC, along with its existing partners, will coordinate a multi-state effort, collaborating with strategic partners to create an integrated, one-stop virtual resource for veteran-owned small businesses. This resource will provide information and high-quality, cost-effective small business assistance to the veteran community through Internet-based consulting, training, social networking and a veteran database registry.

* The Maine SBDC will create a technology-based program to provide the military business community with tools to overcome the barriers to entrepreneurship. The project will include a marketing initiative to promote the educational services of the Maine SBDC available to the veteran community, provide online counseling and distance learning, and create a veterans assistance portal by coordinating with other organizations that assist veterans.

* The Nebraska SBDC will provide services to veterans by coordinating with the Veterans Administration, the Nebraska Department of Labor, the Veterans in Business Forum, the Nebraska National Guard, and the 55th Air Wing and Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base. It will use news media and speeches to service clubs and other organizations to reach veterans, particularly at the early stages. The center will develop a website for veterans to serve as a portal to online counseling and courses, and provide sound and timely information on starting and running a business.

* The Oklahoma SBDC, located in a state that is home to four active military installations, will work closely with each installation to provide services to veterans and military personnel. They will also work closely with Army family readiness groups, and provide training and education to veterans, and their families, who are in business or are considering starting businesses. The center will provide resources to military personnel that will transition to the civilian world. The SBDC will also offer training sessions and workshops via live video feed through a distance learning center, and expand on established channels of communication to reach veterans in need of assistance.

* The Oregon SBDC will establish a customized veterans small business management program, engaging National Guard business owners affected by unexpected deployment and difficult economic times. The training will allow peer veteran sharing of information and best practices in business, while developing strategic planning solutions to help Oregon’s veterans. The center will serve as a one-stop point of contact and deliver services through traditional one-on-one counseling and simultaneous distance education, VoIP audio and Web technology to eliminate time and distance barriers.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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President Obama Proposes Strong Budget for Small Business; Increases SBA Funding by More Than 20 Percent

Yesterday, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured] praised the Small Business Administration [SBA] components of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal. For the second year in a row, the President has proposed increasing funding for the SBA and its programs, taking decisive steps to rebuild the SBA after eight years of cuts.

The request proposes to increase funding to the agency by $170 million from last year’s enacted level, to $994 million. This, along with new small-business, job-creating proposals the President outlined in his State of the Union address last week, show the Obama Administration’s strong support for small businesses.

"By requesting more money to help our small businesses succeed," said Sen. Landrieu, "President Obama’s budget proposal emphasizes that small business remains a top priority for the Administration, and is central to the President’s efforts to create jobs.

"As part of his budget, the President again showed his support for increasing the caps on small-business loans as a way to provide small businesses with immediate capital to grow and hire workers. This is a proposal I, along with Ranking Member Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], introduced last year. It has since gained even more bipartisan support, and passed the committee. It is my hope the proposal will be included in any job-creating measure introduced in the Senate."

President Obama’s proposed budget:

Expands Access to Capital
* Supports the increase of the maximum 7[a] loan size from $2 million to $5 million, 504 loans from $1.5 million to $5.5 million, and microloans from $35,000 to $50,000. Sen. Landrieu introduced, and the committee passed, legislation that matches these increases;

* Supports more than $28 billion in small-business financing -- including $17.5 billion for the 7[a] loan guarantee program; $7.5 billion for the 504 loan guarantee program; and $3 billion for the Small Business Investment Company [SBIC] program, which provides venture capital financing to small firms;

* Supports $25 million in microloans, allowing intermediaries to provide small loans to entrepreneurs and start-ups; and

* Provides $5.9 million for the SBA’s international trade and export promotion programs, allowing the agency to support more than $1.1 billion in capital to small exporters and maintain their network of 18 export finance specialists.

Supports Counseling and Contracting Programs
* Provides $113 million to support about 900 Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs];

* Provides $14 million to support about 100 Women’s Business Centers [WBCs];

* Provides $7 million to support about 370 chapters of SCORE, a mentoring program involving retired executives;

* Provides $2.2 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones [HUBZones] program, which creates incentives for contracting with small firms to create jobs in underserved communities;

* Provides $3.4 million for the 7[j] technical assistance program, which provides small disadvantaged businesses with training in financing, business development, management, accounting and marketing;

* Provides $3 million to increase the reach of Emerging Leaders. Graduates of this program -- often in distressed areas -- have reported significant increases in revenues, government contracts, local hires, and access to financing; and

* Provides $11 million to support the job growth potential found in regional clusters of businesses. These clusters will involve public-private partnerships, which align federal resources with existing regional strengths and economic growth opportunities.

Provides Help for Those Hit by a Disaster
* Supports $1.1 billion in direct disaster-assistance loans, in line with the 10-year average;

* Includes a legislative proposal that would extend, from three to seven years -- the maximum term for businesses that want an SBA disaster loan, but have an existing line of credit with a bank or have enough cash on hand where they could get a conventional loan from non-SBA sources; and

* Requests $203 million to support for administrative expenses for the disaster program -- an increase of $126 million from last year’s enacted level. These funds are critical in supporting SBA’s effort to efficiently and effectively service its $8.4 billion active loan portfolio.

Reduces Risk and Increases Oversight
* Provides $2 million to strengthen lender oversight and on-site reviews, to ensure taxpayer dollars are going to those who need help the most;

* Provides $4 million to improve oversight of government contracting programs, including the HUBZone program, and to strengthen performance assessment and management of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program; and

* Provides $1.1 million to evaluate the SBA’s loan, counseling and other programs to optimize effectiveness.

"While this budget request shows the President’s strong dedication to small businesses, I will work to increase funding for critical counseling programs, and to restore funding for the Federal and State Technology Partnership program [FAST]," Landrieu added. "The FAST program increases small-business innovation opportunities, and is vital for the growth of rural areas. The program received funding last year for the first time since 2004, and must not disappear."

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Bush Budget a Bust for America's 27 Million Small Businesses

Today, Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.] said the president's proposed budget cuts critical small-business programs and falls short of repairing the deep cuts to the agency over the last seven years. Excluding disaster loan funding, the proposed budget for next year represents a 28 percent cut for the Small Business Administration [SBA] since President Bush took over in 2001 – the largest cut of all the federal agencies – and a three percent cut from 2008 appropriations. The president's request of $657 million, including disaster loan program funds, for the SBA is only 0.02 percent of the entire $3.1 trillion budget.

"Unfortunately, this budget is more of the same from the Bush administration for America’s 27 million small businesses," said Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "The Bush budget fails to provide the critical investment to finance startups and grow existing businesses.

"Last year, nearly 900,000 jobs were created or retained due to government-backed loans and venture-capital deals to small businesses. But we’re already seeing these loans on the decline this year as a result of the mortgage crisis, so we need to do everything we can to boost these programs. This is not the time to be making cuts."

Once again, the Bush administration proposes no funding for small-business loan programs, and deeply cuts counseling and outreach programs; e.g., Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs], Women's Business Centers [WBCs], and technical assistance programs.

"The significant proposed cuts to business counseling programs will have a detrimental impact on our ability to help small businesses succeed," Kerry noted. "I will work with my colleagues in a bipartisan way to reverse the severe Bush administration cuts -- just as the Democratic-led Congress did last year, when we restored $40 million to core small-business programs."

Specifically, the proposed 2009 budget:

* Lacks funding for loans and venture capital programs. The budget yet again provides no funding for the SBA’s largest loan programs – 7[a] and 504 – and provides no increase in the authority to back new loans. The president has recommended a program level of $17.5 billion for 7[a] loans, and $7.5 billion for the 504 program — the same as his last two budget proposals. There is no money for the Small Business Investment Company [SBIC] debenture program, and the president has recommended the same program level of $3 billion for the last six years. Last year, nearly 100,000 businesses received 7[a] loans -- a $14 billion investment in the economy, which created or retained over 624,000 jobs. Nearly 200,000 jobs were created or retained from the 504 loan program, which lent nearly 11,000 small businesses more than $6 billion in loans. The SBIC program helped create or retain almost 63,000 jobs in 2007.

* Eliminates all funding for the Microloan Program and Microloan Technical Assistance. This year’s proposed budget increases the program level for the microloan program from $21 million to $25 million, but doesn’t fund it. It continues shifting the cost to the lenders. This is the second consecutive year that the president has made this proposal; for the previous three consecutive years, he sought to eliminate the SBA’s microloan program altogether. Microloans proportionately help more women and minorities than other programs. The proposal also eliminates the counseling assistance program, Microloan Technical Assistance, which is essential to help microentrepreneurs succeed and repay their loans. Last year, 2,437 small businesses received more than $31 million in microloans nationwide.

* Eliminates low-income capital program. President Bush requested no new funding for the New Markets Venture Capital program.

* Cuts funding for key counseling programs. The President's budget proposal makes significant cuts to grants for Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers, reducing their proposed budgets by $10 million and more than $1 million, respectively. Over the last seven years, SBDCs and WBCs have essentially been flat-funded, which equals real cuts for these centers due to their funding level not keeping up with inflation. In addition, with the elimination of the Microloan Technical Assistance program, the president proposes that SBDCs and WBCs would pick up the slack, despite already reduced funding. Last year, SBDCs assisted 600,665 businesses, and WBCs assisted 147,000 businesses. The Program for Investment in Micro-entrepreneurs [PRIME], which provides counseling to low-income entrepreneurs, has also been eliminated.

* Provides no new funding for Procurement Center Representatives [PCRs]. The proposed budget provides no new funding to hire additional PCRs. Currently there are about 57 PCRs -- although only around 30 have full-time PCR duties -- to monitor contract bundling and breakout contracts for small firms. This falls far short of the 100 PCRs that Congress has been calling for to oversee nearly $400 billion in federal contracts.

* Cuts funding for critical assistance programs, and eliminates line-item transparency. President Bush continues to propose cuts to funding for the 7[j], HUBZone and Native American outreach programs, as well as roll the funding into the overall agency operating budget. This reduces transparency and creates uncertainty as to how much funding the programs will receive.

GoodBiz113's take: While President Bush has repeatedly declared his support of small businesses -- most notably, during annual press conferences kicking off April's National Small Business Week -- his actions don't support his spirited words. America's 27 million small businesses are fortunate to have Sen. Kerry advocating for us in a bipartisan manner, and for holding the Bush administration accountable for the deleterious ramifications of its truly unfortunate funding choices.

SOURCES: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Senate Passes First Funding Increase for Small-Business Programs in Seven Years

Today, Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.] applauded the Senate’s passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which provides more than $40 million in additional funding for key Small Business Administration [SBA] programs over last year’s funding. Each of the SBA’s core programs -- including Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and the Microloan program -- will receive an increase.

"For the first time since President Bush took office, small business programs will receive a real funding increase thanks to the Democratic leadership of this Congress," said Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

"Small businesses are the economic engine of America and create two thirds of all jobs, but the Bush administration has merely used them as photo ops and backdrops to promote big-business policies," Kerry noted. "Democrats have made clear our commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and to solidifying America’s future competitive edge by investing in small-business programs."

The 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act provides almost $569 million in funding for SBA programs. When funding for the disaster loan program and non-agency spending is excluded because it fluctuates each year, the SBA’s funding is increased by more than $40 million over the 2007 funding levels.

Specifically, the SBA’s core programs will receive:

* Small Business Development Centers: Up 9 percent [from $89 million to $97.1 million]
* Women’s Business Centers: Up 4 percent [from $12.5 million to $13 million]
* Microloan Technical Assistance Grants: Up 15 percent [from $13 million to $15 million]
* Microloans: Up 53 percent [from $1.3 million to $2 million in funds to leverage almost $20 million in loans -- up from $12.7 million last year]
* Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs: Up 50 percent [from $2 million to $3 million]
* 7[j] Management and Technical Assistance Program: Up 53 percent [from $1.5 million to $2.3 million]
* HUBZone Program: Up 5 percent [from $2 million to $2.1 million]
* Surety Bond Guarantee Program: Up 6 percent [from $2.8 million to $3 million]
* Loans and Venture Capital: The SBA will be able to leverage up to $28 billion in loans and venture capital deals through the 7[a], 504, and Small Business Investment Company [SBIC] programs.

SOURCE: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Bipartisan Bill Expands Health-Care Access for Small Businesses

Yesterday, in a victory for the families of small-business owners and their employees, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation that will improve accessibility of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program [SCHIP] program. Senators John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Olympia Snowe [R-Maine] attached an amendment to the legislation that will create a governmental task force to enroll more children in the program. The provision requires the Small Business Administration [SBA] to team with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Labor to educate small business owners, employees and the self-employed about the eligibility and enrollment requirements for SCHIP.

“President Bush’s threat to veto kids’ health care means that as many as 4.4 million children, including the sons and daughters of small-business owners and the self-employed, will be denied access to health coverage,” said Sen. Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “Democrats and Republicans came together to put the health and safety of American children ahead of politics and ideology. President Bush should drop his ill-conceived veto threat and do right by our nation’s children by giving them health care.”

"The amendment I cosponsored with Senator Kerry would create a multi-agency campaign, including the Small Business Administration, to help enroll children in the SCHIP program who are currently eligible for the program, but not currently enrolled," explained Sen. Snowe, ranking member of Kerry's committee. "Many of these children come from families who work for a small business or are self-employed. It is imperative that the SBA and its resource partners actively work to reduce the number of uninsured children in this country."

The Kerry-Snowe amendment, modeled after the Small Business Children’s Health Education Act [S. 1714], would:

* Establish an Intergovernmental Task Force to conduct a nationwide campaign of education and outreach for small businesses regarding the availability of coverage through SCHIP and/or other private insurance options;

* Encourage the use of SBA’s business partners -- including Small Business Development Centers, Certified Development Companies, Women's Business Centers, and SCORE -- as well as private and non-profit groups, to increase SCHIP enrollment;

* Create a hotline for small businesses to call with questions about SCHIP eligibility and enrollment; and

* Require SBA to provide prominent online access to information on eligibility and enrollment requirements.

GoodBiz113's take: SCHIP is far-reaching, win-win-win legislation that truly benefits current and future generations of workers, small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and self-employed people. Replete with enthusiastic support from both sides of the political aisle, SCHIP deserves to be enacted and funded ASAP.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Wikipedia
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Bipartisan Entrepreneurial Development Bill Expands Opportunities for Women- and Minority-Owned Small Businesses

Late yesterday, Senators John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Olympia J. Snowe [R-Maine, pictured] introduced comprehensive legislation to promote far-reaching entrepreneurial development programs. In particular, the bill expands women and minority small business ownership opportunities by boosting Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs], Women’s Business Centers [WBCs], SCORE, and other programs. It will also help reduce regulatory burdens on small firms.

“Investing in these core small business assistance programs will help create jobs in our state," noted Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "In Massachusetts alone, SBDCs served over 8,500 entrepreneurs last year, and our Center for Women and Enterprise has generated 15,000 jobs over the last 10 years. These programs will not only help our entrepreneurs succeed today, but they will build the next generation of small business owners, too.”

“By investing in assistance and development programs that create small business opportunities for women and minorities, we are paving the way for all Americans to improve their entrepreneurial skills,” said Sen. Snowe, ranking member of the committee. “This legislation is critical to providing the necessary tools to expand and promote small business ownership, and create the necessary jobs that all Americans rely on.”

Many of the provisions in the Kerry-Snowe bill unanimously passed the committee last Congress. Specifically, the bill:

* Reauthorizes and expands key small business counseling and assistance programs like SBDCs, WBCs, and SCORE;

* Improves the WBC grant program through streamlined paperwork and increased oversight;

* Promotes greater consultation between the National Women’s Business Council, the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise, and WBCs;

* Creates a Native American small business development program, an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration [SBA], and a Native American grant pilot program to foster increased employment and expansion of small businesses in Indian Country through business counseling services;

* Seeks to address the small business health insurance crisis by creating a competitive pilot grant program for SBDCs to provide counseling and resources to small businesses about health insurance options in their communities;

* Establishes a pilot program to assist small businesses in complying with federal and state laws and regulations; and

* Creates a Minority Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pilot Program to provide competitive grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSIs], Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges to create a curricula focused on entrepreneurship.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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House Democrats Pass Significant Reforms for Entrepreneurial Development Initiatives

While many aspiring entrepreneurs have great ideas, it is not unusual that they face difficulty when it comes to turning their dreams of business ownership into successful ventures. This is often caused by a lack of adequate training.

Today, members of the U.S. House of Representatives acted to change this by approving a bipartisan package of new education and investment tools for small firms. Simply put, it's the most comprehensive restructuring of entrepreneurial development programs in nearly a decade.

The legislation that passed today targets growing sectors of the small business community, including veterans and women. It also offers assistance to help entrepreneurs cope with their most pressing challenges, such as regulatory burdens, rising health care, and energy costs. The result will be increased business growth and more successful ventures throughout the country.

"The face of business is changing and so are the challenges that entrepreneurs are being hit with," said Nydia M. Velázquez, chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business. "If they are to succeed in the 21st century, then small businesses need access to the tools that will make that possible. This is exactly what we are providing them with today by passing this legislative package."

The House passed four bills that modernize entrepreneurial development programs across the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA]:

* H.R. 2359, the SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Act of 2007, introduced by committee Vice-Chairman Joe Sestak [D-PA, pictured above], expands the role of Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs] and targets the most pressing economic challenges facing entrepreneurs today -- from the rising costs of health care and energy, to regulatory burdens and compliance costs. It also expands the SCORE program, to ensure services reach entrepreneurs across the country.

* H.R. 2397, the SBA Women's Business Programs Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Mary Fallin [R-OK], expands the Women's Business Centers' reach across the U.S., and increases services in underserved communities. The legislation dedicates resources to strengthen centers and ensure stability in the program.

* H.R. 2366, the SBA Veterans' Programs Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan [R-FL], creates additional Veterans Business Outreach Centers and offers business development services targeted to veterans.

* H.R. 2284, the Native American Small Business Development Act of 2007, introduced by Congressman Tom Udall [D-NM], amends the Small Business Act to expand and improve the educational and technical assistance provided by SBDCs to Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs.

"Around the country, small firms are taking the lead in creating jobs and developing their communities," said Chairwoman Velázquez. "Democrats took steps today to ensure that burgeoning entrepreneurs -- including returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and aspiring women business owners -- will be able to learn the skills they need to turn their dreams into reality."

Entrepreneurial development programs have been critical to the success of small-business owners nationwide. In fact, studies show that entrepreneurs who receive this assistance are twice as likely to succeed as those who have not.

These initiatives, and the service they provide, are critical to small business expansion. This technical assistance will enable entrepreneurs to better handle the unique challenges they face in today's economy and, thus, create jobs -- often, in areas that were previously underserved.

"This is a big step forward for aspiring entrepreneurs," added Chairwoman Velázquez. "This legislation ensures that emerging sectors of our small business community -- returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, female entrepreneurs, and senior citizens -- have access to the resources they need to not only start a business, but to also expand it. It allows the drivers of this nation's economy to remain on top when it comes to development and job creation."

Sources: Congressional Budget Office, GovTrack.us, Library of Congress, U.S. House Committee on Small Business
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Kerry-Snowe Bill Provisions Help Small Businesses Increase Energy Efficiency

Today, as the Senate debated a comprehensive energy bill, Senators John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Olympia J. Snowe [R-Maine] introduced legislation to press the Bush Administration to take action to help small businesses increase their energy efficiency.

The bipartisan bill also holds the Bush administration accountable for failing to implement an energy-efficiency assistance program enacted into law in 2005, and provides tools that will help small businesses reduce their dependency on fossil fuels.

As GoodBiz113 previously reported, in March, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing that revealed the federal government needs to play a more aggressive role in assisting small businesses in becoming more energy efficient.

Then, in April, Kerry and Snowe wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], seeking details on the Bush administration’s progress in implementing the ENERGY STAR Small Business Program. They also wrote to the Small Business Administration [SBA], asking for information about how the agency has implemented the energy-efficiency program mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 [EPAct].

“Improving energy efficiency isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for the bottom line,” declared Kerry, chairman of the committee.

“Many small businesses want to be part of the solution to addressing climate change -- one of our generation’s greatest challenges," he noted. "But we need leadership from this administration to promote and provide resources to help small firms that want to take the next step and reduce their energy use and costs. I am working to get provisions passed in the energy bill that will help small businesses achieve this goal.”

“As the ranking Republican on the Small Business Committee and as a longstanding steward of the environment," Snowe noted, "I firmly believe that small businesses have a pivotal role to play in forging a solution to global climate change and rising energy prices.

“According to a recent survey conducted by the National Small Business Association, 75 percent of small businesses believe that energy efficiency can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And, yet, only 33 percent of those respondents had successfully invested in energy-efficiency programs for their businesses. Our measure will help to incentivize small businesses to make a smaller carbon ‘footprint.’”

The Kerry-Snowe bill:

* Requires the [SBA] to implement, within 90 days, an energy efficiency program that was mandated in EPAct -- passed in 2005 to ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable and reliable energy;

* Establishes an audit program to increase energy efficiency, using Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs];

* Promotes financing agreements between small businesses and utility companies to increase energy efficiency;

* Creates a telecommuting pilot program at the SBA, responsible for educational materials and outreach to small businesses on the benefits of telecommuting;

* Allows small businesses conducting energy-efficiency or renewable-energy research and development to be given priority consideration in the SBA-administered Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs; and

* Establishes loans for small firms to invest in use of renewable sources of energy in their business.

GoodBiz113's take: Despite myopic, misguided and purely nonsensical arguments to the contrary, climate change is real. We're pleased that Sens. Kerry and Snowe are leading this bipartisan effort to simultaneously hold America's 26 million small businesses accountable and incentivize us to do our part to help reverse the far-reaching and devastating effects of global warming.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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