 | | Cassius Butts Regional Administrator U.S. Small Business Administration |
Black History Month- A True Success As most of you know, each year Black History Month is celebrated throughout the month of February. I am extremely proud of our most recent SBA events in which Black History Month has been celebrated across the Southeast in 2014. The SBA Regional Office is located in Atlanta, GA; a legendary city for the African American community. I participated in the recent March on Washington Film Festival in Atlanta with Congressman John Lewis (coordinated by Frank Brown, Executive Director, Butler Street Community Development Corporation), where the film, March to Justice, was viewed featuring Congressman John Lewis as he tells his experience on Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March to Kerry and Ethel Kennedy. Also, in Alabama, SBA District Director Tom Todt participated in the 10th Annual A.G. Gaston Conference; coordinated by Birmingham's Bob Dickerson; CEO of Foundation Capital. The conference is named in honor of Dr. Arthur George Gaston, a phenomenally successful African American serial entrepreneur in Birmingham. Dr. Gaston was born in 1892; a challenging unprecedented time for people of color. He did, however, overcome great challenges and inspired many throughout the Birmingham community by establishing several small businesses that benefited all walks of life throughout not only the City of Birmingham, but the Southeast and the entire nation. Dr. Gaston died at the age of 103 with a fortune worth more than $40 million, and a business empire spanning communications, real estate and insurance. Mr. Gaston remains an inspiration for entrepreneurs across the nation. In Tennessee, SBA staff participated on Fisk University's WFSK Radio 88.1FM in Nashville announcing Nashville Black History Month celebration events, including those at Tennessee State University and Fisk University. District Director Walter Perry participated in the Black History Month and Fair Pay Celebration event sponsored by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Nashville Area Office. SBA staff also participated in a Black History Month event held by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, which highlighted accomplishments of African-American small business owners in the Nashville area. In Florida, SBA staff was invited by Living Waters Ministries to speak to their Youth Group regarding Black History Month, Education, and the SBA. The audience was comprised of kids ages 6-16 years of age. As you can see, Black History Month is celebrated across the United States and the world and has had a significant impact for economic growth. Congratulations to a successful 2014 Black History Month.  SAVE THE DATE!!!Find Out What is Happening In Your Area: | | ALABAMA Tom Todt, SBA District Director Sandro Murtas of SBA's Office of International Trade and the Alabama District Office recently conducted a webinar for Alabama lenders regarding the financial assistance available from the SBA to foster small business exporting. For upcoming similar webinars to assist small businesses with exporting, please contact the SBA Alabama District Office. www.sba.gov/AL. |
 | | NORTH FLORIDA Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, SBA District Director National Ombudsman, Brian Castro and Regional Administrator, Cassius Butts, participated in a series of Regulatory Fairness Roundtables in central Florida on February 12-13, 2014. The roundtables enabled the National Ombudsman to gauge how federal regulations may be impacting local businesses. A group of business students at Bethune-Cookman University were invited to participate in one of the roundtables. The students were able to interact with senior members of SBA staff, and gain perspective on how to start or grow their businesses. Small businesses challenged with fees, fines, or other federal regulatory issues are encouraged to contact the National Ombudsman's office at ombudsman@sba.gov. |
SBA National Ombudsman Brian Castro Hosts Regulatory Roundtble in Orlando at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando | |  |
 | | SOUTH FLORIDA Francisco "Pancho" Marrero SBA South Florida District Office operations and processes were reviewed by an executive team of agency district directors and headquarters officials as part of a Field Accountability Review. After the three-day inspection, the team found no material deficiencies with the South Florida District Office. Public Affairs Specialist Jim Brooks, gave an Affordable Care Act presentation to more than 80 members of the Doral Business Council on Feb. 11. He then sat on a panel discussion with Florida state Senator Rene Garcia; South Florida Health Coalition and an 8(a) business owner to answer questions about the new health care law. Emerging Leaders Initiative is making a debut in Miami-Dade this spring. The district is partnering with our new SBDC at Florida International University for classroom space. Resource partners are joining the recruiting push for this valuable business program. Fifteen businesses in Miami-Dade county will be selected for this highly specialized no-cost training. Miami Dade county small businesses can learn more about this program by visiting: www.sba.gov/miamiemergingleaders. Register before March 21 at: http://www.interise.org/sbaemergingleaders. The district wrapped up judging district nominations for National Small Business Week. We look forward to notifying district winners soon. |
 | | GEORGIA Terri Denison, SBA District Director The SBA Georgia District Office is seeking nominations for Georgia's 2014 Small Business Champion of the Year awards. Deadline for submission is Mar 15th, 2014. The award categories are: • Entrepreneurial Success Award • Family-Owned Business of the Year • Financial Services Champion of the Year • Home-Based Business Champion of the Year • Minority Small Business Champion of the Year • Small Business Media Advocate of the Year • Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year • Women in Business Champion of the Year • Young Entrepreneur of the Year The SBA Georgia District Office will celebrate Small Business Week in May with a luncheon to recognize the recipients of each award hosted by the Georgia's Lenders Quality Circle. Click HERE for more information. |
 | | KENTUCKY Ralph Ross, SBA District Director SBA Offers Affordable Care Act Events Across Kentucky Before March 31 Deadline SBA's Kentucky District Office is presenting information on the Affordable Care Act in Bowling Green and Owensboro, Kentucky's third and fourth largest cities, respectively, in March in conjunction with AARP of Kentucky, kynect – Kentucky's Healthcare Exchange, and other regional healthcare, social services and economic development agencies. SBA's Kentucky District Office will present information on how the Affordable Care Act affects small business and its employees as well as small business resources for the Affordable Care Act. Kentucky Healthcare Exchange Kynectors will be onsite to enroll attendees, and other agencies will be available to answer questions. Both events are free and open to the public. Sessions will be at 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm CT on March 11 in Bowling Green and on March 19 in Owensboro, but registration is requested. Call 877-926-8300 to reserve space or to learn more about locations and agencies participating. Information is also available at www.sba.gov/ky in the "Find Events and Workshops in Your Area" section of the website. |
 | | MISSISSIPPI Janita Stewart, SBA District Director Penney Melton retired from the SBA-Mississippi District Office in March 2008 with 34 years of civil service. However, she returned in August 2012 as a rehired annuitant on a part-time basis. Her role as a part-time employee affords her the opportunity to commit more time to family and personal travel while remaining an integral part of the SBA team. She is currently an Economic Development Specialist in the Lender Relations Division and responsible for IT, marketing and outreach duties. On February 5, 2014, she was presented with a certificate in recognition of 35 years of service with the federal government. |
Janita Stewart, SBA District Director Honors Penny Melton with a certificate for 35 years of federal service. | |  |
 | | NORTH CAROLINA Lynn Douthett, SBA District Director
SBA VETERAN CAPTURES PIECE OF NAVY HISTORY Dan Lucero has been with the SBA since 2009. Prior to joining the Agency, Dan was the owner and general manager for a health care business focused on the elderly. He and his wife grew their small business from a local presence to the national level. For over 20 years Dan served our country. During one of his three Vietnam tours he was assigned to the USS Kirk. The Kirk gained notoriety as the destroyer which carried out one of the most significant humanitarian missions in the history of the U.S. Navy. In 1975, not only did the Kirk rescue the South Vietnamese Navy but they rescued tens of thousands of Vietnamese citizens taking them to safety in the Philippines. This incredible story is profiled in a documentary called "Last Days in Vietnam" which was produced by filmmaker Rory Kennedy, the youngest child of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January 2014. To Dan's credit the film included Super 8MM movie footage shot by him during the rescue mission. The documentary will air on PBS in 2015 which marks the 40th anniversary of this heroic event. |
Daniel Lucero Lead Businesses Opportunity Specialist 8(a) Division SBANorth Carolina District Office | |  |
 | | SOUTH CAROLINA Elliott Cooper, SBA District Director On Wednesday, February 26, the South Carolina District Office participated in an event with USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at the South Carolina State Farmer's Market to help the state's lenders better serve their agricultural clients. The event included a discussion of how increased collaboration between SBA, USDA-RD and FSA will benefit both the lenders and their clients, as well as an overview of each agency's loan programs. The South Carolina District Office welcomed this opportunity to better meet the financial needs of South Carolina's rural and agriculture-based small businesses. For more information on this program, please contact the SBA South Carolina District Office: www.sba.gov/sc. |
 | | TENNESSEE Walter Perry, SBA District Director On January 30th, Kena Dixon, Economic Development Specialist, conducted a Federal Government Procurement Database workshop at theSBA District Office. David Tiller, District International Trade Officer, participated with a panel on Export Trade Finance programs, including the SBA Export Working Capital Loan, during "Export 101," an event conducted in Memphis by the Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. District Director Walter Perry and Rural Liaison David Tiller met with Gene Davidson, State Executive Director, and other officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency on February 7th to discuss the ways in which SBA lending and USDA lending may provide distinct advantages to rural area small business persons in the Volunteer State. During the week of February 10th, eight workshops were presented as part of a Small Loan Advantage Outreach effort in Memphis, Nashville, Clarksville and Kingsport with a total attendance of over one hundred entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs. The events were hosted by SCORE and the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers with presentations by Sue Malone of Superior Financial Group and Mary Hoehn of Pathway Lending, SBA's Tennessee based microlender. On February 18th, District Director, Walter Perry, along with district staff, met with officials at the Tennessee National Guard to discuss SBA's Veteran's Outreach plans for 2014. |
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