2014- This Year is YOUR Year It is time to think through your small business priorities for the upcoming new year. 2014 is sure to be an amazing year for small business, job creation and a strong American economy. The SBA has supported $4.8 billion in loans nationally and $625 million in loans in the Southeast so far in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 (since October 1st, 2013 to December 13, 2013). I often say that numbers speak for themselves. I would say that FY 2014 is looking great for small businesses for 2014. In addition to backing loans, the SBA prides itself on connecting with the small business communities across the United States and we are continuously making strong connections throughout the Southeastern Region. We share our news and new opportunities through many avenues. One method is by sending this monthly newsletter out to over 175,000 subscribers. Another way we communicate with our communities is that we have partnered with Cities, Institutes of higher education, contracting organizations and Chambers throughout the Southeast through Strategic Alliance Memorandums. Our district offices, resource partners and government agency partners are instrumental in continuing to build these partnerships across communities. We thank our resource partners such as SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers as well as our local, state and federal partners for assisting us to build our nations backbone; the small business community. We are working diligently with resource partners to share the latest opportunities available to small businesses through the Affordable Care Act. Our district offices are delivering updated news on the ACA through webinars, speeches, panels, etc. Please be sure to check your local SBA Calendar of Events for upcoming ACA events. www.sba.gov. We are reaching out to our lenders consistently to be sure they have the tools they need from SBA to succeed. We recently held a regional conference call with several SBA lenders who have agreed to sign on to the Veteran's Pledge Initiative. These lending institutions have committed to increasing their lending to veterans by 5 percent for the next five years. We have reached out consistently to the 8(a) government contracting communities empowering the 8(a) firms to market themselves to the best of their ability in order to secure federal contracts. I have addressed the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council to stress the importance of utilizing small businesses to succeed in the national marketplace. With all of this said, 2013 has been a spectacular year for small business and we are just getting started. 2014 is sure to be the best year yet in terms of the SBA's 3 C's: Counseling, Capital, and Contracting. We look forward to embracing existing relationships and look forward to building new relationships in 2014! Happy New Year! Congratulations to the Following SBA Staff Who Are Dedicated to Federal Service:Rosalind Bryant, Lender Relations Specialist, SBA North Florida District Office- 25 Years on December 18! Raymond Hembree, Deputy District Director, SBA Alabama District Office, celebrated 40 years of government service on November 27. Elaine Dunlap, Business Opportunity Specialist & Administrative Officer, SBA Alabama District Office, is retiring December 31 after 34 years of service. Donna Padgug, Economic Development Specialist, SBA North Florida District Office, has celebrated 30 years of federal service! Veronica Wallace, Lead Lender Relations Specialist, SBA North Florida District Office celebrates 45 years of federal service. Mike O'Neill, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA South Carolina District Office is retiring January 10th after 24 years with the SBA/Federal service.  | | The SBA's Office of Advocacy has released a recent report: An Analysis of Internet Sales Taxation and the Small Seller Exemption . Please find this treport by clicking HERE. |
Find Out What is Happening In YOUR Area! | | SBA Alabama District Office Tom Todt, District Director Raymond Hembree, Deputy District Director, celebrated 40 years of government service on November 27. District Director Tom Todt presented the certificate in recognition of 40 years' service to Mr. Hembree at the District office. Elaine Dunlap, BOS/AO, is retiring December 31 after 34 years of service. We will miss her dedication and service to the Alabama District. |
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District Director Todt (left) honoring Deputy District Director Raymond Hembree (right) |
A big farewell and thank you to Elaine Dunlap, Business Opportunity Specialist and Administrative Officer for the SBA Alabama District Office | |  |
 | | SBA North Florida District Office Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director The North Florida District Office hosted a workshop on the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) on December 10, 2013. The workshop was designed to provide information to small business owners on the impact of the ACA and to answer business owners' questions. Participants learned about the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) and about other aspects of the ACA that is of interest to small business owners. Future events and workshops are currently being developed, and will be announced in the new year. Please visit www.sba.gov/fl/north. |
 | | SBA South Florida District Office Francisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director South Florida District Office is busy this holiday season inspiring and educating business owners and entrepreneurs throughout south Florida. Three Affordable Care Act presentations reached more than 125 small business owners. The Miami District held a training session in both the Miami and Tampa offices. More than 90 other small business owners joined an online webinar that explained the new law. Transitioning military personnel who are considering small business ownership following their uniformed service received the two-day "Boots to Business" curriculum at SFDO's three military installations: MacDill AFB, Peterson AFB and NAS Key West. The three sessions were attended by more than 50 military personnel and spouses. Finally, SFDOs efforts for a statewide SAM with the Florida Association of Minority Business Enterprise Officials (FAMBEO) were achieved on Nov. 21, when FAMBEO President Pamela Hart Frazier and SBA Region Administrator Cassius Butts signed the alliance. While visions of sugar plums are dancing in the heads of many this month, SFDO is busy preparing for "Access Miami: Gateway to International Trade in the Americas." This day-long export trade event is scheduled for Jan. 14 at Miami's Jungle Island and in partnership with the City of Miami, Miami SCORE chapter, CITI Bank, and Espirito Santo Bank. |
 | | SBA Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director
After nearly 44 years of loyal, dedicated Federal Service at the SBA, Ms. Carolyn W. Griffin, the manager of the Georgia District Office's 8(a) business development program, will retire effective December 31. The GADO 8a portfolio is among the largest in the agency. Ms. Griffin, a Georgia native, grew up in New Jersey where she got her start with the SBA as a temp working in Disaster before she transferred in to the GADO 8a business development section in 1987. "After considering my personal goals and my continuing journey as an individual, I believe that I have made the right decision and at the right time. I am excited and looking forward to my new life of leisure, but of course, I am a little saddened by the thought of not seeing all of you in future days to come. You have all, individually, and as a whole, been an inspiration to me, and I have learned things from all of you, and will take with me the fondest of memories of my time within the SBA. "I will forever be grateful to the SBA for having given me one of the greatest opportunities of my life – to help GA small businesses develop, grow and prosper through the 8(a) Business Development Program. Though it is a time for me to move on, it is an opportune time for someone else to lead the 8(a) Team to greater heights, as it is time to for me to take myself to greater heights as an individual" said Ms. Griffin. |
Ms. Carolyn Griffin waves goodbye after more than four decades of dedicated service to the small business community. Photo by: Mark D. Gibson | |  |
 | | SBA Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director The SBA Kentucky District Office, in conjunction with AARP, the Louisville Free Public Library and SCORE, held an Encore Entrepreneur event, targeted those who want to explore entrepreneurship, at the Main Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library on December 13. This program is part of a larger effort by AARP and SBA to provide a range of resources to more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners over the age of 50. With one in four individuals ages 44 to 70 interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and 63 percent of Americans planning to work during retirement, small business ownership is a good option. Small business owners with long-term counselors see bigger sales, hire more workers and are more successful. The Kentucky District Office provided an overview of SBA programs, including loan programs, no-cost counseling services and contracting opportunities available to small business owners. The public library staff discussed free software for entrepreneurs on website and phone app development as well as market research resources and assistance available through the library. AARP staff examined programs and services for small business owners, and SCORE offered "speed mentoring" sessions to all attendees to fast-track business ideas and connect to SBA's resource partner counselors in the region. |
 | | SBA Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director On Wednesday, December 11th the SBA Mississippi District Office hosted an ACA Resource Fair in a joint effort partnered with various resources and healthcare organizations to help get the word out to small businesses about this new law. There were nearly 50 people in attendance. This event offered a unique educational experience for small business owners to hear from healthcare officials, state and federal entities charged with informing the public of best practices, tools and resources in utilizing the new healthcare law. Participants included the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner; University of Mississippi Medical Center; Humana; Magnolia Health Plan; Health Help Mississippi and the Jackson State University Small Business Development Center. |
  | | SBA North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director The North Carolina Bankers Association hosted the 2013 North Carolina SBA Lenders Award Luncheon in Charlotte at the Hilton University Place on Tuesday December 3, 2013. The top SBA Lenders in North Carolina were honored. Over 30 lending institutions were represented. The day started with a training session for lenders on the new SOP changes and details of the fee eliminations effective for 2014. Thanks to all the lenders for all their participation and congratulations to the winners! For a complete listing SBA lenders in North Carolina, please visit HERE. |
 | | SBA South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director The South Carolina District Office announces four new small business and advocacy awards for 2014: The SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Award (for South Carolina businesses with 15 or fewer employees) Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year Small Business Financing Advocate of the Year Small Business Ally of the Year (for non-profit organizations) Other categories include the SBA's Small Business Person and Small Business Exporter of the Year awards and South Carolina's own Family Business of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year (under 30 years-old), Minority Entrepreneurship Advocate of the Year, and Women in Business Advocate of the Year awards. For the full list of small business and advocacy awards, see http://1.usa.gov/1cldr0A. Deadlines range from January 17 to January 31, 2014. All South Carolina award winners will be honored at the 2014 Salute to Small Business, scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, in Columbia during the week leading up to National Small Business Week May 12-16. For more information, contact Anna Huntley at anna.huntley@sba.gov.
A Big Farewell! Mike O'Neill, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist for the South Carolina District Office, will be retiring on January 10 after nearly 24 years with the SBA. Since April 2008, Mike has managed the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program in South Carolina, where he has helped socially and economically disadvantaged small business owners increase their viability and competitiveness. Prior to joining the South Carolina District Office, Mike was a Business Opportunity Specialist in the Virginia District Office for seven years. From 1995 to 2001, he was the Assistant District Director for 8(a) Business Development in the Hawaii District Office. Earlier in his SBA career, Mike served as both a Loan Specialist and Business Opportunity Specialist for the Washington, D.C. and New Mexico district offices and briefly served as a financial analyst for the 504 Loan Program at SBA Headquarters. Before his government service, Mike was President and CEO of the United Services Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. An Oklahoma native, Mike is a graduate of Central State College and of the Memphis State University School of Banking.
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 | | SBA Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director The Tennessee District signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with American Baptist College (ABC) in Nashville on December 6 enabling SBA and this Historically Black College & University (HBCU) to partner in areas of mutual interest to the college and small business community. The agreement, signed by ABC President Dr. Forrest E. Harris, Sr. and SBA District Director Walter Perry, will enable SBA to interact with faculty and students in areas such as entrepreneurship and business planning to strengthen and expand small business development in the Nashville area. The signing was attended by U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District, who played a key role in supporting American Baptist in its application to attain HBCU status which was granted earlier this year. The Tennessee District staff held workshops recently in Chattanooga and Cleveland on the Affordable Care Act along with upcoming webinars on December 17 and 19 to advocate opportunities for small business employers to provide health insurance. Also, District staff appeared on WFSK-FM radio in Nashville to highlight provisions of the ACA. Additional workshops held recently in the District include a December 13 training on quality assurance for 8(a) government contractors and a Boots to Business training on starting a small business for personnel soon to be completing military service at the Naval Support Activity in Millington, Tennessee on December 10-11. |
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