 | | Cassius F. ButtsRegional AdministratorU.S. Small Business Administration |
 Jumpstart Your Entrepreneurial Dream Today with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and AARP Entrepreneurs over the age of 50 are one of the fastest growing groups of new business owners. For age 50+ individuals, entrepreneurship offers an opportunity to use your knowledge and experience that you've gained during your life experiences toward creating a new business that can be rewarding in many ways. This is an exciting entrepreneurial time for people age 50+, especially when you consider that there are 76 million people over the age of 50 in the United States. For the new Summer of Encore Mentoring initiative, SBA district offices and AARP state offices nationwide will offer events specifically designed to help encore entrepreneurs—those age 50 and older who want to start or grow a small business. This is an exciting entrepreneurial time for people age 50+, especially when you consider that there are 76 million people over the age of 50 in the United States. For the new Summer of Encore Mentoring initiative, SBA district offices and AARP state offices nationwide will offer events specifically designed to help encore entrepreneurs—those age 50 and older who want to start or grow a small business. To Read the Full Article, Click HERE. To learn more about encore opportunities, please visit https://www.sba.gov/content/50-entrepreneurs What's Happening for Small Business In Your Area?State By State | | Alabama DistrictTom Todt, Alabama District Director RADM Steven G. Smith USN (Ret), SBA's Director of Disaster Planning & Risk Management, was in Huntsville recently to participate in a series of meetings hosted by TechRich and the Women's Business Center of North Alabama. TechRich, the Technology Regional Innovation Cluster Huntsville, implements and facilitates a number of initiatives across a 13-county service footprint in north Alabama and southern Tennessee. |
Steve Smith addresses the 200 attendees at the semi-annual Missile Defense Agency Small Business Breakfast | |  |
 | | While in Huntsville, Smith also participated in a meeting of the MDA Prime Contractor Small Business Advocacy Council, which included over a dozen large prime contractors, as well as a working lunch that included briefings by the TechRich board, clients and local university representatives. |
Terry Griffin, TechRich Project Manager, and Adm. Smith discuss the planned events prior to the breakfast meeting | |  |
 | | North Florida DistrictWilfredo J. Gonzalez, District DirectorThe North Florida District Office hosted the latest installment of the Boots to Business training at Mayport Naval Station from June 15-16, 2015. The training is designed to help veterans, active duty military, and their spouses learn about starting or growing their businesses. Topics covered include selecting a business structure, marketing, financial analysis, and resources available to them. The course modules are provided by the SBA and its resource partners including SCORE, Small Business Development Center, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Women's Business Center of Jacksonville. To find out more about the Boots to Business program or to register for an upcoming session, contact Natalie Hall, SBA Veterans Representative at (904) 443-1902. |
 | | South Florida DistrictFrancisco "Pancho" Marrero, District DirectorThe North and South Florida District Offices participated in the Annual Florida 8(a) Alliance Conference in Orlando from June 8-9, 2015. Staff from both offices were present to network with business owners and each district office provided training through workshops. About 240 people attended the conference including small business owners, representatives from other federal agencies, and prime contractors. Additionally, both districts signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and renewed their statewide SAM with the Florida 8(a) Alliance. |
Pictured Left to Right: Andy Harold, Founder of the Florida 8(a) Alliance; Francisco Marrero, SBA South Florida District Director, Stephanie Landing, Florida 8(a) Alliance Executive Director; and Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, SBA North Florida District Director. | |  |
 | | Georgia DistrictTerri Denison, District Director The SBA Georgia District offices signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce on June 15, 2015. The purpose of this SAM agreement is to develop and foster mutual understanding and a working relationship between Georgia's SBA district offices and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in order to strengthen and expand small business development in the local area. Pictured below: Dr. Dan Kaufman, President & CEO Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce with Terri Denison, Georgia District Director, sign a SAM kicking off small business week in Gwinnett County Georgia. "Gwinnett County is the state's second most populous county and is experiencing the growth to fuel business start-ups and growth." said SBA Georgia District Director Terri Denison. "This environment and the Gwinnett Chamber's commitment to foster the well-being of small business as well as larger enterprises create a wonderful opportunity to collaborate." "The Gwinnett Chamber is committed to a strategic collaboration with the Small Business Administration to foster the supportive environment that our small businesses need to thrive," said Dr. Dan Kaufman, President & CEO of the Chamber. "By offering our entrepreneurs access to the education and resources they need to manage their businesses more effectively, we help create the conditions in which small businesses can start, sustain, and succeed." |
The SBA Georgia District Office signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce on June 15, 2015. | |  |
 | | Kentucky DistrictRalph Ross, District Director Kentucky District Office Adds BOS to Team Ms. Cherie Guilford brings a variety of proficiencies to her new position as a Business Opportunity Specialist for the Kentucky District Office. She has nearly 20 years of experience working for the Federal Government as a Contract Specialist with various agencies, including the Air National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Departments of Interior (National Park Service), Energy and Commerce. In addition, she owned and operated a small business for more than 10 years, during which time she maintained a contract with the Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center to provide outreach and assistance to small business owners interested in obtaining government contracts. Early in her career, Cherie discovered she was gifted with the ability to encourage others. This, coupled with her work experiences and her love for training and coaching, makes her an ideal fit as a BOS for the Kentucky District Office. Cherie has a BBA and MA in Organizational Management. Although she has lived many places across the country, Kentucky has always been "home." She and husband Harvey are the proud parents of two rescue dogs, Drake, a puppy mill survivor and Buddy, taken from a hoarding situation. We are delighted to have Cherie as part of our SBA Kentucky team. |
 | | Mississippi DistrictJanita Stewart, District Director The 2015 Mississippi District Office Small Business Week and Top Lenders Awards event, held Tuesday evening, May 5th in Jackson, was a huge success! A total of seven SBW award categories were in the spotlight including SBPOY, the local Phoenix Awardee, among others, as well as the Top Lenders and Top CDC for FY 2014. In addition to district and branch office staff participating, representatives from Senator Thad Cochran's office and Mayor Tony Yarber, City of Jackson's office participated in the event. With about 160 in attendance, much positive feedback was received. Making this event the success it was could not have occurred without the special 'teamwork' we have in Mississippi. In particular, some employees went above and beyond the call of duty and have been recognized with STAR Awards, providing each 2 days off. Nominated by Supervisory Lender Relations Specialist Rhonda Fisher, these employees are Deborah Dean, Rosetta Harris and Penney Melton.
|
Left to Right: Deborah Dean, SBA Lender Relations Specialist; Rosetta Harris, SBA Lender Relations Specialist; Rhonda Fisher, SBA Supervisory Lender Relations Specialist; Penney Melton, SBA Economic Development Specialist; Janita Stewart, SBA District Director; and Gary Reed, SBA Deputy District Director. | |  |
On June 10th, the SBA Mississippi Gulfport Branch Office partnered with AARP to host a "Summer of Encore Mentoring" event in Biloxi, MS. This event included a panel of local experts in the fields of banking, business development and contract procurement. Topics discussed included technology, marketing, financing, certifications and product development. Audience members also engaged in a Q&A session with panel members and received valuable advice relevant to entrepreneurship. L to R: Stephen O'Mara, The District; Tom Collins, Community Bank Coast; Stephen Witt, PhD., Director of The Innovation Center; Mitch McDowell, Director of the Gulf Coast SBDC; Lance Foster Gulfport Branch Manager; Marcia McDowell, Director of South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center and Laurie Johnson, AARP Mississippi. | |  |
 The SBA Mississippi District Office will host a statewide 8(a) Application and Destination HUBZone Conference on July 1st. In national and statewide efforts, the Mississippi SBA is currently seeking firms that may be eligible for its 8(a) and HUBZone Programs for two primary purposes: To increase applications and to expand the number and types of businesses certificated in these highly sought-after federal programs. Businesses interested are asked to attend conferences scheduled on Wednesday, July 1st at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU located at 1230 Raymond Road in Jackson, MS. The 8(a) Application Conference will occur 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (sign-in at 8:00 a.m.) and the Destination HUBZone Conference is scheduled 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (registration at 1:30 p.m.). Both events will take place in the Convention Hall. Space is limited, so pre-register online today at: 8(a) Application Conference: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/jacksonmssbagov-7746052449?s=37419802 Destination HUBZone Conference: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/jacksonmssbagov-7746052449?s=38416250. Or go online at: https://www.sba.gov/content/mississippi-8a-and-hubzone-conference Call the SBA Mississippi District Office at (601) 965-4378, ext. 17, 13, or 14 if you have questions.  | | North Carolina DistrictLynn Douthett, District Director On May 27, 2015 the North Carolina District participated in the 15th annual Marketplace, an annual statewide contracting conference. Marketplace is the largest procurement conference in the state and is hosted by the North Carolina SBTDC. The agenda included procurement workshops, a luncheon, and networking opportunities for small businesses. Contracting officers from over 50 federal, state, local government agencies and prime contractors were represented. The afternoon featured the SBA American Supplier Initiative to provide small businesses with additional networking opportunities. SBA District Director Lynn Douthett hosted a Congressional Briefing for Congressman G.K. Butterfield and Congressman David Price's staff highlighting SBA accomplishments during 2014 and facilitated a discussion with representatives from nine federal and state agencies. |
 | | Marketplace 2015 in Durham, NC drew 350 attendees. |
From left to right: Asher D. Hildebran, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Congressman David Price (seated); Mark Mills North Carolina PTAC Director; Lynn Douthett SBA North Carolina District Director; and Congressman G.K. Butterfield. | |  |
 | | South Carolina DistrictElliott Cooper, District Director The Summer of Encore Mentoring is here, and the South Carolina District Office is committed to reaching the many "encore entrepreneurs" exploring business ownership as a second career. Our office kicked off the Summer of Encore Mentoring in Hilton Head Island with an "Encore Entrepreneur + Mentor Matchmaker." Hosted by the Hilton Head Island Economic Development Corporation, the matchmaker connected over 30 current and aspiring "encore entrepreneurs" with a variety of successful local business owners and local experts in a series of 25-minute speed-mentoring sessions. The event ended with a panel discussion with four business community leaders. "The feedback from our entrepreneurs /small business representatives was universally positive, and they were extremely complimentary regarding the expertise and professionalism of our mentors and panelists and the counsel and assistance [provided]," said Don Kirkman, executive director of the Hilton Head Economic Development Corporation. Building on the success of that first Summer of Encore Mentoring event, the South Carolina District Office is planning a four-part Summer of Encore Mentoring webinar series through July and August focused on successfully starting, managing, financing and marketing a small business. And on Tuesday, August 25, we'll be holding a second "Encore Entrepreneur + Mentor Matchmaker" at the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Stay tuned for more details!
|
 | | Tennessee DistrictWalter Perry, District DirectorThe Tennessee District will host its 6th Annual Procurement Summit on Tuesday, July 21 at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams Campus in Downtown Nashville. This free event will bring together federal agencies and prime contractors from across Tennessee and surrounding states enabling small business owners to meet with representatives from the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, Department of the Army in Fort Campbell and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, just to name a few. Agencies presented on their needs for goods & services, so this event is highly important for those interested in doing business with the Federal Government. Preregistration is at www.tsbdc.org. SBA lending in Tennessee is up 61% in the number of loans and 90% in the dollars as compared to this time last year (May 31, 2015 vs. May 31, 2014). With 392 SBA loans statewide totaling $228 million this year, banks and credit unions are eager to lend to borrowers across the Volunteer State. |
| | |
| This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration (SBA) · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722 |  | |
