President Obama Proclaims National Small Business Week 2010, Highlights Small-Business Growth and Job Creation

Calling small business the backbone of the nation’s economy, President Barack Obama [pictured] stressed his Administration’s commitment "to helping small businesses drive our economy toward recovery and long-term growth" in his proclamation of the week of May 23-29 as National Small Business Week.

The President’s proclamation was issued yesterday, prior to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 47th annual observance of National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. [May 23-25]. The event honors the nation’s most outstanding entrepreneurs, and features the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year for 2010 from among the 53 state small-business winners, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

President Obama will meet with Small Business Week 2010 award winners at the White House on Tuesday, May 25.

"Small-business owners embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and strong work ethic that lie at the heart of the American dream," President Obama proclaimed. "They are the backbone of our Nation's economy, they employ tens of millions of workers, and, in the past 15 years, they have created the majority of new private-sector jobs. During Small Business Week, we reaffirm our support for America's small businesses and celebrate the proud tradition of private enterprise they represent.

"Our Nation is still emerging from one of the worst recessions in our history, and small businesses were among the hardest hit. From mom-and-pop stores to high-tech start-ups, countless small businesses have been forced to lay off employees or shut their doors entirely. In these difficult times, we must do all we can to help these firms recover from the recession and put Americans back to work. Our Government cannot guarantee a company's success, but it can help create market conditions that allow small businesses to thrive.

"My Administration is committed to helping small businesses drive our economy toward recovery and long-term growth. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has supported billions of dollars in loans and federal contracts for small businesses across the country. The Affordable Care Act makes it easier for small-business owners to provide health insurance to their employees, and gives entrepreneurs the security they need to innovate and take risks. We have also enacted new tax cuts and tax credits for small firms. Still, we must do more to empower these companies.

"In this year's State of the Union Address, I proposed creating a $30 billion lending fund to help increase the flow of credit to small businesses, and I call on the Congress to pass this legislation quickly. My Administration is also working to extend and enhance Small Business Administration programs that have helped small-business owners acquire loans and hire workers.

"This week, we celebrate the role of entrepreneurs and small businesses in our national life. They are the engine of our prosperity and a proud reflection of our character. A healthy small-business sector will give us vibrant communities, cutting-edge technology, and an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century."

National Small Business Week 2010 will begin with two-and-a-half days of events in Washington, D.C., at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where more than 100 outstanding business owners from across the country will be recognized. In addition to the State Small Business Persons of the Year, men and women involved in disaster recovery, government contracting, small-business champions, as well as SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development, will be honored.

A keynote address by SBA Administrator Karen Mills will highlight Monday morning’s agenda, followed by Mills hosting a town hall meeting entitled "Small Business: Driving America’s Economy." Also featured are a series of executive panel forums on innovation, exporting and social media.

Among the featured speakers confirmed are The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and The Honorable RayLaHood, Secretary of Transportation. A list of other outstanding speakers -- including prominent business leaders, CEOs and politicos -- are listed with the week's full agenda at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/.

The public can "attend" Small Business Week events virtually, via the SBA’s streaming video on the Web at http://www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com/.

Small Business Week 2010 sponsors and co-sponsors include: Sam’s Club, Visa, Ford, ADP, Raytheon, Cbeyond, UPS, Intuit, Google, eBay, AT&T, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, D&B, Verio, Nomadic Display, ASBDC, NADCO, NAGGL, NASE, NSBA, WIPP and SCORE.

The full text of President Obama’s Small Business Week proclamation can be found at: http://bit.ly/Proclamation2010.

To learn about Small Business Week events in your area, go to: http://bit.ly/SmallBizRegion.

To view highlights of National Small Business Week 2009 events, visit: http://bit.ly/SmallBizWeek2009.

To stay informed about SBA's efforts to simultaneously promote entrepreneurship and economic recovery, bookmark the following URL: http://bit.ly/RecoverySBA.

SOURCES: U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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SBA, Minority Business RoundTable Renew Strategic Partnership to Expand Outreach to Minority Entrepreneurs

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it renewed its two-year partnership agreement with the Minority Business RoundTable [MBRT], to continue joint outreach efforts to minority entrepreneurs.

“During these difficult economic times, it is imperative that we provide small and minority businesses with the necessary tools to drive economic growth and create jobs in their communities,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured]. “Far too often, minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs encounter hurdles to getting capital, contracts and other assistance to help them succeed in the marketplace. Making sure we do all we can to remove these hurdles is a top priority for SBA and the Obama Administration.”

This strategic alliance is part of SBA’s ongoing effort to support small-business development initiatives in underserved communities. The agreement allows the organizations to share resources and educate minority entrepreneurs on how to use SBA products and services to establish and grow their businesses.

SBA has supported substantial financing to minority-owned small businesses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Since the Act was signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, minority-owned small businesses have received more than $4 billion in SBA-backed loans -- about 23 percent of the more than $18.5 billion in small-business lending that SBA has supported under the Recovery Act.

Minority-owned businesses continue to account for about 29 percent of the agency’s overall lending, and 37 percent of its microloans. Minority-owned small businesses also have received more than $3 billion worth of federal contracts under the Recovery Act.

MBRT is a national membership organization for minority CEOs that serves as a unified voice for minority businesses. Through this partnership, the SBA and MBRT intend to help more of these businesses succeed and stimulate economic growth in their communities and the nation’s economy.

The SBA-MBRT alliance is intended to strengthen and expand small-business development across the nation for minority entrepreneurs. SBA will provide MBRT with timely information on the agency’s programs, services and resource partners; participate in roundtable discussions and conferences; and advise them on events that will impact their mission.

As part of the resource pooling, MBRT will cooperate with SBA and its resource partners to provide information to members about its business-development programs and services, and share current SBA news and information. The two-year agreement is a renewal of the partnership between the SBA and MBRT, and was implemented on Jan. 11, 2010.

GoodBiz113 Tools
* SBA: http://www.sba.gov/
* MBRT: http://www.mbrt.net/
* Recovery.gov: http://www.recovery.gov/

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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SBA Offers Free Online Course on Winning Federal Contracts

The U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] just launched a new online training course to help strengthen access to contracting opportunities for small businesses -- including those owned by women, minorities, disadvantaged individuals and veterans.

The free training program, "Recovery Act Opportunities: How to Win Federal Contracts," is part of a federal government-wide initiative announced last month by President Obama, and being led by SBA and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner, in terms of expansion and job creation," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills [pictured]. "But make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive. Working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America -- often with direct contact to the CEO.

"The SBA online training course can help businesses access the federal purchasing system, and position themselves to compete for the commercial opportunities offered by government contracting."

In announcing the government-wide initiative, President Obama reiterated his Administration’s commitment to providing "our Nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in federal government contracting."

As part of the initiative, federal agency procurement officers are participating in more than 200 events over the next several weeks to help connect small businesses with contracting opportunities. Additionally, SBA and Commerce are expanding their outreach to contracting officials across the federal government, to ensure they have the tools to meet their annual contracting goals and increase opportunities to small businesses -- including those owned by veterans, women and minorities, as well as those enterprises located in designated HUBZones.

As part of the outreach to small businesses, the comprehensive online course uses both audio and script to provide information about the federal marketplace, contract rules and, most importantly, how to sell to the government and where to find contract and Recovery Act-related opportunities.

The new training portal is a free online training course designed to assist entrepreneurs during this period of economic recovery. This self-paced instructional guide provides an overview of the federal procurement process.

The "Recovery Act Opportunities" course is available on SBA’s website: http://www.sba.gov/fedcontractingtraining. It's indexed by subject matter to allow ease of use, and includes multiple direct links that highlight the best contracting resources.

The course also includes practical and fundamental steps to engage small-business owners in the federal contracting process. It is one of more than 24 online tutorials offered by the SBA, and is available 24/7.

For more information, please visit SBA's website: http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCES: U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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In FY 2008, Small Businesses Won Record $93.3 Billion in Federal Contracts

Small businesses won a record $93.3 billion in federal prime contracts in Fiscal Year 2008 [Oct. 1, 2007 - Sept. 30, 2008] -- an increase of almost $10 billion from 2007, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA]’s third annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard, released today. In addition, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses increased their share of federal contracting dollars by at least $1 billion to $3 billion.

"This record $93.3 billion in contracts to small businesses is significant," SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. "However, across the federal government, we are committed to ensuring that the 23 percent goal is met, and even exceeded, going forward.

"Especially during these tough economic times, federal contracts for small businesses can be just the opportunity they need to continue to grow and create jobs. At the same time, the federal government gets access to some of the most innovative, and best, products and services."

Earlier this week, the Obama Administration reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned businesses and small businesses -- including women and veteran-owned businesses -- have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and SBA Administrator Karen Mills also announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or participating in more than 200 events over the next 90 days to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"President Obama [pictured] has made a commitment to ensuring that small businesses have greater access to federal contracting opportunities, and it is a commitment shared across this Administration," noted Mills. "We have already begun taking aggressive steps to connect small businesses with contracting opportunities, as well as increase our outreach to federal agency procurement officers to make sure they get the information and tools they need to help them connect with these good, innovative small companies."

Small Business Procurement Scorecards provide an assessment of federal achievement in prime contracting to small businesses by the 24 Chief Financial Officers Act agencies. It also measures progress that departments are making to ensure that small business opportunities remain an integral part of their acquisition of goods and services to meet mission objectives.

The Scorecard was designed as an internal control and monitoring device to ensure that:

1] Federal agencies reach their small-business and socio-economic goals;

2] Accurate and transparent contracting data is used; and

3] Agency-specific progress is maintained.

SBA is issuing the Small Business Procurement Scorecards for the third time.

The annual Scorecard rates federal agency performance in meeting the overall small-business goal and the component contracting goals for small disadvantaged businesses, small businesses in HUBZones, and small businesses owned by women and service-disabled veterans. Procurement goals for federal procuring agencies may vary, because the SBA negotiates individual goals with each federal procuring agency.

The following 13 agencies met small-business contracting goals: the departments of Agriculture [USDA], Education, Energy [DOE], the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], General Services Administration [GSA], Health and Human Services [HHS], Homeland Security [DHS], Interior [DOI], National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC], Transportation [DOT], SBA and Veterans Affairs [VA].

The following 22 agencies met goals for contracts to small disadvantaged businesses: the departments of Agriculture, Commerce [DOC], Defense [DOD], Education, Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development [HUD], Interior, Justice [DOJ], Labor [DOL], National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation [NSF], the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, SBA, Social Security Administration [SSA], State, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs.

The following 14 agencies met goals for women-owned small businesses: the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Transportation, Treasury, and SBA.

The following nine agencies met HUBZone contracting goals: the departments of Agriculture, Energy, General Services Administration, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Transportation and SBA.

The following four agencies met goals for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans: the departments of the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Labor and Veterans Affairs.

According to the Scorecard ratings of performance on all five goals:

* One agency -- GSA -- met or surpassed its goals in all areas.

* Eight agencies -- DHS, DOE, DOI, DOL, DOT, NRC, SBA, USDA -- met or surpassed four of the five goals.

* Four agencies -- Education, EPA, HHS, VA -- met or surpassed three of the five goals.

* Four agencies -- DOC, HUD, NASA and Treasury -- met or surpassed two of the five goals.

* Five agencies -- DOD, DOJ, NSF, SSA and State -- met or surpassed one of the five goals.

* Two agencies -- Office of Personnel Management [OPM] and the U.S. Agency for International Development [USAID] -- met none of the five goals.

About the Scorecard
SBA rates 24 agencies green, yellow or red on each of the individual goals established by Congress, and gave a numerical score to each agency based on how many of the five goals were met or surpassed.

Each federal agency has a different small-business contracting goal, determined annually in consultation with SBA. SBA ensures that the sum total of all of the goals meets the 23 percent target established by law.

As part of its ongoing efforts to increase access to contracting opportunities for small businesses, the SBA is continuing to work with federal agency procurement staff to strengthen the integrity of contracting data -- including providing tools to facilitate public review of data and training to improve accuracy.

The goaling reports released today by SBA are available at http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/goals/index.html.

SOURCES: General Accounting Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Increase Access to Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Small Businesses

The Obama Administration today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses -- including women- and veteran-owned businesses -- have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke [pictured] and SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or participating in more than 200 events over the next 90 days to share information on government contracting opportunities -- including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Small and minority-owned businesses must play a significant role in our efforts to restore economic growth," said President Barack Obama. "Small businesses employ half of the nation’s private-sector workforce; create a large share of the nation’s new jobs; and introduce many groundbreaking ideas into the marketplace. It is essential that we provide our nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in federal government contracting.

"In order for the federal government to better meet or exceed the goal of 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses, Vice President Biden and I have tasked Small Business Administrator Karen Mills and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke with leading a federal government-wide initiative to increase outreach. Over the course of the next 90 days, agency officials will take an important step forward by holding or participating in more than 200 events focused on sharing information on government contracting opportunities."

Vice President Joe Biden noted that Recovery Act funding will play a significant role in fueling this far-reaching initiative. "In these tough economic times, the Recovery Act is providing billions of dollars in opportunity and incentives to help businesses grow -- and the President and I are committed to ensuring that small and minority-owned businesses are part of our economic recovery every step of the way," he said. "By taking advantage of the expertise of an array of companies, we are going to be able to build a stronger, more secure foundation for long-term economic growth."

As part of the Commerce-SBA initiative, over the next 90 days:

* Federal agency procurement officials will hold or participate in more than 200 events to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

* SBA and Commerce will expand their outreach to fellow contracting officials across the federal government, passing along best practices for outreach and education to every agency, to ensure they have the tools they need to meet their annual contracting goals.

* Locke and Mills will promote small-business contracting opportunities in remarks, special events and discussions with small-business groups across the country -- including minority, women and veteran groups.

"It has been a priority from Day 1 of this Administration to ensure that small and minority-owned businesses are aware of, and have access to, federal contracts and funding opportunities," said Locke. "Over the past 40 years, minority-owned businesses have grown from 300,000 to nearly 4 million today. Their success, and the success of small American businesses, are vital to our economic recovery."

Beyond the next 90 days, Commerce and SBA will support, monitor and track the impact of these efforts going forward, to help ensure the Administration is maximizing opportunities for small businesses.

Administrator Mills beamed at the potential of this initiative to harness entrepreneurs' innovative energy, ideas and expertise. "Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner, in terms of expansion and job creation," Mills said. "But, make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive. Working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America -- with direct line to CEO."

Small-business owners can find out about federal contracting opportunities by visiting http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Commerce and SBA officials are also available in local offices across the country to assist small businesses interested in contracting opportunities. Contact information for local offices can be found at http://www.commerce.gov/ and http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCES: Recovery.gov, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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Landrieu Fights for Small-Business Contracts in Military Procurement Process

United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu [D-La.] wrote today to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin [D-Mich.] and Ranking Member John McCain [R-Ariz.] in support of the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 [S.454], which was marked up this morning.

Specifically, Sen. Landrieu indicated her support for Section 205, “Organizational Conflicts of Interest in the Acquisition of Major Weapon Systems,” and Section 203, “Maximization of Competition Throughout the Life Cycle of Major Defense Acquisition Programs,” which would increase meaningful opportunities for small businesses to compete for Department of Defense [DoD] projects.

Currently, the DoD procurement process sometimes lacks independent or objective analysis to determine the best firm for a particular contract. In her letter, Sen. Landrieu cited an example in which a small business was nearly put out of business because the DoD disregarded a conflict of interest when making a contracting decision.

With the help of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program, the company, NAVSYS Corporation, developed technology for a GPS navigation system for the Air Force, which the government found helpful. When the Air Force began to transition the technology into its GPS program, it asked the prime contractor to assess whether the technology should be used. The prime contractor, however, had a conflict of interest in determining whether the small business should get the contract or the prime contractor should do it themselves. The prime contractor ultimately decided to do it themselves.

“Small businesses are too often overlooked or harmed by the federal government’s contracting process,” Sen. Landrieu said today. “Section 205 of the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act will go a long way toward protecting small businesses from conflicts of interest, while eliminating waste and inefficiency at the DoD.

“Section 203 of the bill would also help to maximize competition for defense acquisition contracts, which will help small businesses because it creates more potential opportunities for them to participate.”

Sen. Landrieu’s letter to Sens. Levin and McCain is available online at: http://tinyurl.com/d7zc3s.

GoodBiz113's take: For far too long, greedy and gluttonous prime contractors have feasted at the DoD contracting table. It's time for them to share the wealth of DoD procurement opportunities with smaller, leaner and faster enterprises who bring real innovation and cost-effective efficiencies to the needs of our military forces. Bravo to Sen. Landrieu for her efforts to improve DoD's acquisition procedures to serve the greater good.

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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Kerry Responds to Bush Administration's Failure to Meet Its Small-Business Contracting Goals

Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released the following statement regarding the Bush Administration’s failure to meet its small-business contracting goal. This comes after yesterday's release of the Small Business Administration’s [SBA] annual contracting Scorecard, which shows that just 17 of 24 federal agencies met their 2007 small-business contracting goal:

"For the second year in a row, the Bush Administration has short-changed America's small businesses. But the fact that the government missed its contracting goal isn't even the worst of it. Like the administration itself, the numbers just can't be trusted. They don't count the millions of small-business contracts that have slipped through the cracks and gone to corporate giants.

"Eight years of budget cuts and lax oversight show that the Bush Administration thinks small equals less important. Given the impact entrepreneurs have on our economy, we need leadership that is more aggressive in giving small businesses the chance to succeed in the federal contracting arena."

SBA’s Scorecard builds on a series of significant initiatives the agency began two years ago to improve small-business access to federal contracts. SBA, along with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, ordered the federal contracting database to be scrubbed, removing many cases of non-profits, state or local governments, and large companies that were recorded erroneously as small businesses.

The annual Scorecard rated federal agency performance in meeting the overall small-business goal and the component contracting goals for small disadvantaged businesses, small businesses in HUBZones, and small businesses owned by women, and service-disabled veterans.

The following 17 agencies met their small-business contracting goals: the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Personnel Management, and SBA.

GoodBiz113's take: America's small-business owners, entrepreneurs and self-employed folks are fortunate to have Sen. Kerry advocating on our behalf, to see that we're awarded the contracts that have been set aside for us -- at least 23 percent of all federal contracts, according to Federal Acquisition Regulation [FAR] -- Part 19 standards. Hopefully, the next Administration will be much fairer in spreading the wealth of federal contracting dollars, and all 24 agencies will meet their small-business contracting goals across all components.

SOURCES: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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House Approves Bill to Improve Contracting Opportunities for Small Firms

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act [H.R. 3867] by a margin of 334 to 80. Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez [D-N.Y.] gave the following opening statement:

"In recent years, the federal marketplace has seen phenomenal growth. However, while procurement opportunities are increasing, agencies are failing to meet their small-business-, women-, service-disabled veterans-, minority- and low-income contracting goals. This has not only cost small businesses billions in lost opportunities, but deprives the government of a valuable supplier.

"Our nation’s entrepreneurs play an important role in the procurement system, providing diversity, competition, and ensuring we get the best value for the taxpayer dollar. To help them get a start, there is an array of contracting programs offering technical assistance, purchasing flexibility, and targeted benefits.

"Unfortunately, due to legislative neglect, underfunding and mismanagement by several administrations, the programs have fallen far short of their full potential, leaving many small businesses outside of the federal marketplace. The Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act, introduced by myself and Rep. Mary Fallin [R-Okla.], will change that by making important improvements to women, minority, HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran contracting programs.

"H.R. 3867 will immediately implement the Women’s Procurement Program that has languished in the current administration’s endless delays. It also updates the economic criteria for the 8[a] program, reflecting current fiscal realities. The last time Congress addressed the 8[a] program was almost 20 years ago, when a gallon of gas was 90 cents and the average cost of a home was less than $90,000. For too long, we have forced minority businesses to operate under antiquated financial standards that, in many cases, were simply setting them up to fail.

"Most importantly, this legislation will give our service-disabled veterans top priority when it comes to contracting opportunities. For those men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan -- many with life-altering injuries -- this bill will provide the tools to start a new endeavor and begin a new life. These changes will go a long way to addressing many of the program shortcomings that have frustrated our nation’s small-business owners.

"H.R. 3867 also fights fraud in the federal marketplace. Contracting opportunities are a privilege, not a right; the Small Business Contracting Improvements Act makes that clear. For the first time, we are imposing a business code of conduct on all participants, requiring the federal government to verify that individuals are who they claim, and empower small firms to police their own programs. This will restore integrity to these critical programs.

"Through modernizing programs and increasing accountability, H.R. 3867 brings SBA’s contracting programs into the 21st century. It is for this reason that this legislation has attracted remarkably broad support -- including the National Federation of Independent Business, Associated General Contractors, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Black Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, International Franchise Association, as well as the National Defense Industrial Association and the Aerospace Industries Association.

"This is a measured approach that balances the need to give program flexibility within the realities of current agency buying strategies. It is good for small business, good for the agencies and, most importantly, good for the taxpayers."

GoodBiz113's take: Thank you, Reps. Velázquez and Fallin, for leading House efforts to level the playing field for all small businesses and holding agencies accountable for how, exactly, federal procurement dollars are spent. This bipartisan legislation offers great promise to any of our nation's small businesses -- 26.8 million and counting -- that choose to play the government contracting game and spread the win-win-win wealth.

Source: GovTrack.us, PBS [file photo], U.S. House Small Business Committee
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Sens. Kerry and Snowe to Press Administration on Women’s Business Center Funding, Contracting Program

Today, Senators John Kerry [D-Mass., pictured] and Olympia J. Snowe [R-Maine], chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, outlined specific questions about Women’s Business Center funding they expect the Bush administration to answer at a hearing on Thursday.

Kerry and Snowe have called on the administration to comply with the law, and to fund established and successful Women’s Business Centers as soon as possible. The committee is holding a hearing on women’s business issues on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, featuring testimony from female entrepreneurs, the Small Business Administration [SBA], the agency’s inspector general, and the Government Accountability Office [GAO].

“The law was meant to help these successful centers train and assist women entrepreneurs, not starve them of the resources they need to complete their mission,” said Kerry. “I’m disappointed that the SBA is stalling to implement this important program, and at Thursday’s hearing we will demand answers and accountability. I strongly urge Administrator Preston and the rest of the agency to do what’s in the best interest of Women’s Business Centers and their clients, and make these grants available as soon as possible.”

In addition to Women’s Business Center funding, Thursday’s hearing will also focus on the Women’s Procurement Program which was signed into law in 2000. Despite repeated, bipartisan calls, the Bush administration has failed to implement this program over the last seven years.

“We hope it’s the intention of the SBA to come to this hearing prepared to provide detailed answers on how they plan to implement this crucial new grant program,” Sen. Snowe said. “It’s imperative that these centers who are aiding dedicated and successful women entrepreneurs get the funding necessary to their cause.”

Sens. Kerry and Snowe sent a letter to the SBA in August to encourage the agency to temporarily tailor its grant-making process so that Women’s Business Centers could receive renewal grants by Jan. 1, 2008. Instead of taking the advice of Congress, the SBA contends that they are not able to do so under present law. In May, Kerry also asked the Inspector General to investigate funding delays to some Women’s Business Centers.

The Women’s Business Center Renewal Grants program was passed as part of the emergency appropriations bill signed by President Bush in May, and builds on the Women's Business Center Sustainability Pilot Program introduced by Sen. Kerry in 1999. Since then, Congress has worked in a bipartisan way to ensure that centers with a proven track record of success continue to receive matching funding from the SBA.

* * *

Following, is the text of the letter that Kerry and Snowe sent to SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston:

Dear Administrator Preston:

Thank you for replying to our letter regarding Women’s Business Centers and implementation of the Renewal Grants program. We are concerned with your response to specific issues, and would like your agency to come prepared to fully answer questions outlined below at the hearing, “Expanding Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs: The Future of Women’s Small Business Programs,” on Sept. 20, 2007.

The hearing will partly focus on the management and benefits of the Women’s Business Center program, including renewal grants for graduated and graduating centers. Please be prepared to address the following issues and further explain some of the statements in your letter:

* Implementation and authority. On May 25, 2007, the President signed into law a bill that created the Renewal Grants program. The program became effective immediately and, therefore, the SBA had the authority to provide grants under sub-section [m]. Nevertheless, the reply says, “The SBA cannot operate under the newly legislated guidelines until the date to repeal the old guidelines [October 1, 2007] has passed.” What is preventing the SBA from using this authority?

* Funding and the Grant Process. The SBA contends that it cannot implement the program because, “Until the agency is funded for FY2008, grant disbursement is not possible.” We understand that the SBA cannot obligate or disburse funds until it has appropriations. However, it is our understanding that the request for proposals could be published and responses accepted, with the caveat of being subject to funding, before this time. This would give the SBA additional time and allow for the funds to be awarded immediately after the appropriations bill is enacted, thus helping established centers receive their funding more quickly. Is there anything precluding the agency from requesting proposals before the FY2008 appropriations bill is signed into law?

* Selection criteria. The reply correctly notes that the new law gives graduated centers “funding priority,” but then incorrectly contends that “The graduated center priority implies that all graduated centers would qualify based on years in the program, and not on performance.” This amendment requires grant approval to be based upon criteria developed by the SBA. These criteria are required to be based on the same conditions that are currently being used in awarding grants under the Sustainability Pilot program. Centers must meet those criteria in order to receive a grant. Please explain where the legislation states that centers should receive funding based on years in the program, “regardless of their performance.”

* Funding of New Centers. The SBA contends that the priority funding for graduated centers will preclude the funding of new centers. This is not the case. The amendment states that if funding is limited, established centers should be funded before new centers. We want to see access to counseling for women business owners expanded through new centers. At the same time, it is fiscally responsible for the government to continue building on its investment instead of losing those investments and starting new funding commitments that it might need to abandon later. Women’s Business Centers would receive a significant increase in the Senate appropriations for FY2008 -- $16.88 million, or $4 million more than last year. That should be sufficient to fund existing, graduated, and new centers. Please tell us how much the SBA requested for FY2007 and FY2008 for Women’s Business Centers, and on what appropriation the SBA based its conclusion that it could not fund new centers.

* Implementation. Please describe, in detail, the plan the SBA expects to follow in implementing the new renewal grant program. Please be prepared to tell us when [with specific dates] the SBA expects to publish the announcement, how soon the awards would be made after enactment of SBA’s appropriations for FY2008, and when the actual funds will be disbursed.

It is the intent of this legislation that successful, established centers begin receiving grants as soon as possible. We recognize for this to occur, that it will require everyone to work together, and we assure you that we are fully committed to working with you. Women business owners are an integral and vital part of our economy, and Women’s Business Centers play an important role in supporting them.

We look forward to your response at the hearing this week.

Sincerely,

John Kerry
Olympia Snowe

Sources: Peace Corps Online [photo], U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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