 | | Cassius Butts Regional Administrator U.S. Small Business Administration |
What Does the Affordbale Care Act Mean For Your Small Business?
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News From SBA District Directors Across the Southeast: | |  |
 | | Tom Todt, Alabama District Office
On June 26, Alabama District Lead Lender Relations Specialist L. D. Ralph presented to the Annual Board meeting of Birmingham-based CDC Foundation Capital. The event was held at the Vulcan Park Museum. Mr. Ralph gave an update on SBA lending activities in both 7(a) and 504 lending. He also provided information regarding the NAICS (business industry) breakdown of the businesses getting loans in Alabama. The event was attended by local lenders and civic leaders. Also speaking at the meeting was Regions Bank Senior Vice President Jeff Rosen who described the bank's activities to increase its SBA lending. |
L.D Ralph Lead Lender Realtions Specialist SBA Alabama District Office | |  |
 | | Wilfredo J. Gonzalez North Florida District Office The North Florida District Office Business Development team held its Annual Meeting for 8(a) firms on June 19, 2013 in Orlando. The team leads from North and South Florida, Ken Hamilton and Jeffrey Campbell, provided a State of the 8(a) Program in Florida overview. Other speakers focused on 8(a) eligibility issues, successful growth strategies including government contracting and subcontracting, bonding, technical assistance resources, and the Affordable Care Act. The Annual Meeting was followed by the Florida 8(a) Alliance Conference that offered workshops on Proposal and Bid Writing, Marketing, and Access to Capital, as well as a half-day matchmaking event for small businesses to meet with government agency & large prime business representatives. Featured SBA speakers included Regional Administrator for Region IV, Cassius Butts, and Associate Administrator for SBA's Office of Business Development, Darryl Hairston. RA Butts also signed a statewide Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the Florida 8(a) Alliance to demonstrate the SBA's commitment to helping small business owners obtain contracting opportunities with the federal government. |
SBA North Florida 8(a) Staff From Left to Right: Ed Ramos, Derrick Willoughby, Carmen Gonzalez, Tisa Clark, Jay Choi, Thaddeus Hammond, Darryl Hairston (AA Business Development Washington DC), Kenneth Hamilton | |  |
 | | Francisco "Pancho" Marrero South Florida District Office The South Florida District participated in a state-wide Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the Florida 8(a) Alliance that was signed by Regional Administrator Cassius Butts at the annual Florida 8(a) Conference in Lake Buena Vista on June 20. The district office further solidified its relationship with the City of St. Petersburg and Manatee County's Central Economic Development Center, Inc. (CEDC) during two separate signing ceremonies on June 27. Finally, the district office will sign a statewide SAM with Florida Export Finance Corporation on July 30 in our Miami offices. SBA recognized our district and State of Florida National Small Business Week person of the year as well as our district veteran-owned business person of the year and small business media advocate of the year at the 3rd Annual Small Business Showcase and Conference at Delray Beach's South County Civic Center on July 22. This event was organized by the Florida Women's Business Center and it provided an ideal venue to honor the three awardees that live near Delray Beach. Congratulations to the Small Business Week Winners! |
 | | Terri Denison Georgia District Office The Georgia District Office will hold a Proposal Preparation course for 7(j) eligible businesses on August 1, 2013 from 9:00 – 4:30. Location: SBA Georgia District Office; 233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA 30303 Topics covered: Federal Contracting Primer, The Source Selection Process, Key RFP Documentation, The RFP Structure, The Proposal Preparation Process, The Past Performance Volume, The Cost/Price Volume, The Review Process, Management Considerations To Register: http://sbaworkshops.stoverteam.com There is no cost for 7(j) eligible businesses. SBA District Office Contact: Carolyn Griffin, carolyn.griffin@sba.gov , (404) 331-0100, ext. 501 or www.sba.gov/sba-direct. Workshop information: Phyllis Embree or Chris Strudthoff sbaworkshops@stoverteam.com, (770) 423-9888 |
 | | Ralph Ross Kentucky District Office Arch McAlister, Senior Area Manager for the SBA Kentucky District Office, retired in early July after almost 16 ½ years with the Agency. As the Senior Area Manager, Arch oversaw the Alternate Work Site office in Somerset, located in south central Kentucky, for about 10 years and oversaw the HUBZone program in the Commonwealth. Arch also was a Public Information Officer and supervised the Southern Kentucky Territory. Prior to that, he ran the computer center for the One Stop Capital Shop and later the Business Information Center (BIC) for SBA. Before joining SBA, Arch was an Electronic Engineer for the Department of Defense's Defense Electronics Supply Center (DESC) in Dayton, OH. We wish Arch well! |
 | | Janita Stewart Mississippi District Office
The Mississippi District and Gulfport Branch Offices welcome Lance Foster onboard as an Economic Development Specialist in the Gulfport Branch Office. Lance is joining us from the SBA Boise District Office. As a former business owner, Lance takes great pride in helping promote the dreams of small-business ownership. He will be responsible for the promotion and marketing of SBA programs and services within the Gulfport Branch Office's twelve-county area. Lance holds degrees from both the University of Montana and Kaplan University in Information and Business Management. Welcome aboard Lance to SBA Team Mississippi! Mississippi Statewide 8(a) Application and HUBZone Program Outreach Conferences The SBA Mississippi District Office and the South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center will host a State-wide 8(a) Application Conference and HUBZone Program Conference on Thursday, July 25th in Gulfport, MS. Mississippi was one of 16 sites selected by SBA HQ to conduct these outreach events in an effort to boost applications for certification for both of these programs. For more information on the conferences, please visit SBA Mississippi District Office web site at http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3125/news/439921
SBA Mississippi Small Business Week and Lender Awards Event On July 11th in Jackson, MS, the SBA Mississippi District Office celebrated its 2013 Small BusinessWeek winners along with the FY 2012 top lenders and top CDC. Recognized were Mississippi's Small Business Persons of the Year, Small Business Champions, and the Top Lenders and Top CDC. SBA Regional Administrator Cassius Butts participated in the event, along with state representatives, community and business leaders to congratulate some of Mississippi's best. |
 | | Lynn Douthett North Carolina District Office On June 13, 2013 The Support Center hosted its first annual Small Business Week Luncheon in Raleigh North Carolina. SBA District Director Lynn Douthett presented awards to the SBA North Carolina Small Business Persons of the Year and SBA Small Business Advocates. Awards to small businesses assisted by the Support Center were also presented. Over 100 attendees listened to the keynote speech delivered by the North Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Sharon Decker at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel. The Support Center (TSC) is a North Carolina statewide nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses using Credit Unions, SBA's Community Advantage and ILP programs. TSC also provides lending services to community-based organizations. |
SBA North Carolina District Director Lynn Douthett and Lenwood Long, Sr. President and CEO of the Support Center at the Small Business Week Luncheon | |  |
 | | Elliott Cooper South Carolina District Office
The South Carolina District Office is honored to announce that the South Carolina Small Business Person of the Year, Noah Leask, was named the first runner-up 2013 SBA National Small Business Person of the Year on Friday, June 21, during National Small Business Week. Mr. Leask, a service-disabled Navy veteran, is president and CEO of ISHPI Information Technologies, a cyber defense firm near Charleston serving the intelligence, security and military communities. Congratulations, Mr. Leask! For more on Mr. Leask, see http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3145/news/680691. We're also excited to announce that as part of our new webinar series, we'll be offering an online presentation on the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act and Your Business webinar will take place from noon to 12:45 on Friday, July 26. For more information or to register, go to http://www.sba.gov/events/affordable-care-act-and-your-business. For a full list of South Carolina small business events and webinars, visit the local events calendar on the SBA South Carolina District Office's webpage at www.sba.gov/sc.
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 | | Walter Perry Tennessee District Office Export Lenders' Workshops in Knoxville and Kingsport: Both bankers and potential international trade lenders attended the SBA's Export Lender's Workshops held in the Tennessee cities of Knoxville and Kingsport on July 10 and 11, respectively. The 29 lender representatives in attendance learned about SBA's 90% guaranty on certain international trade loans and that eligibility requirements now include indirect exporters whose goods and services eventually end up in the export supply chain of direct exporters. SBA partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, the Knoxville Chamber and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce to host these well-attended events. International Trade Workshop for Borrowers Held in Knoxville: More than sixty-five attendees spent the afternoon of July 10th in Knoxville with SBA and the U.S. Export Assistance Center of the Department of Commerce learning about SBA's International Trade Loan, Export Working Capital Loan Program (EWCP) and the SBA Export Express. Attendees including manufacturers, high-tech firms from Oak Ridge, Knoxville and surrounding areas, and service firms from around the state. Dan Holt, SBA's Regional International Trade Officer from North Carolina, as well as SBA's Tennessee District International Trade Officer, David Tiller, and Tennessee District Director, Walter Perry were among the presenters.
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