 | | Cassius F. ButtsRegional AdministratorU.S. Small Business Administration |
Small businesses are truly running the American economy and entrepreneurs are starting businesses every day. Some may agree that starting a business can be overwhelming. You have to set up a legal structure, find office space, and apply for multiple licenses and permits before you can even open your doors to customers. The process of starting a business should be a positive experience. That's why SBA is proud to join the White House in announcing the launch of our Startup in a Day initiative, in alliance with the National League of Cities. This month, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet joined President Obama in calling on our colleagues at city halls across the country to make a powerful pledge to streamline and consolidate all of the processes required to start a business into one, easy-to-use online tool. Our goal is to enable America's entrepreneurs to discover and apply for all city, county, state, and federal licenses and permits needed to start a business in 24 hours or less. Success in this endeavor will enable entrepreneurs to spend their invaluable time developing their products, finding new customers, and growing their enterprises – rather than wading through red tape. Eleven pioneering mayors have already taken the Startup in a Day pledge. They're using their leadership positions to digitize and consolidate local licensing and permitting requirements for their entrepreneurs. Please join the SBA in encouraging cities to join the Startup in a Day movement, take the pledge, and eliminate obstacles to small business job creation. Together, we can make the process of starting a business faster and easier. For more information, please visit www.sba.gov/startup or e-mail the Startup in a Day team at startup@sba.gov. What's Happening for Small Business In Your Area?State By State | | Alabama DistrictTom Todt, Alabama District Director The Birmingham inaugural Emerging Leaders class reached the halfway milestone on July 2 with 14 motivated and excited business owners. Guest experts from area accounting and legal firms as well as commercial lenders have volunteered and shared their expertise with the class and provided many with an "eye opening" view of financial statements. CPAs included Karen Moore, Chase Campbell, Tony Raycraft and Sarah Propper with the firm of Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, P.C. and Melanie Shores with Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith, LLC. Attorney Heather Ward with Engel, Hairston & Johanson and Angela Nolan, Branch Manager with Regions Bank were a great help to the participants. The class members are well on their way to creating a Financial Growth Action Plan for their businesses. |
 Front row, left to right: Stephen Gunn, Gideon Services, Inc.; Janice Malone, BRC Design & Print; Grace Lo, Majestic Solutions, Inc.; Lucindra Crutcher, Visionary Engineering & Services, LLP; Chris McDaniel, Sphere Home Technologies; Back Row, left to right: Tess Winningham, Alignment Simple Solutions; Charles Lewis, Supreme Cleaning, Inc.; A.J. Smith, A. J. Smith Realty Services, Inc.; Reuben Russell, Russell Management Group, LLC; Jeremy Spratling, Corporate Facilities Management, Inc.; Selena Rogers Dickerson, SARCOR, LLC; Mark Gerecht, Mentor Enterprises, Inc.; L'Tryce Slade, Slade Land Use, Environmental, and Transportation Planning, LLC; Sean Heileman, Prosource Technology, Inc. (L to R) Sarah Propper, CPA, Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, P.C. talks about financial statements with Janice Malone of BRC Design & Print | |  |
 | | North Florida DistrictWilfredo J. Gonzalez, District DirectorWilfredo Gonzalez, North Florida District Director participated in the grand opening celebration of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, Jacksonville Field Office. The office was dedicated to the memory of Sergeant Reidar Waaler, World War I, Medal of Honor recipient. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication, the first naturalization ceremony in the building was hosted there. The NFDO hosted a round table discussion with the Jacksonville Women's Business Center on July 17. The roundtable covered two important topics: (1) 6 Essential, Brand-Driven Marketing Strategies for Every Business; and (2) Federal Contracting and the 8(a) Business Development Program. Anyone interested in learning more about upcoming trainings or events in North Florida should visit www.sba.gov/fl/north. |
 | | South Florida DistrictFrancisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director South Florida District continues to strengthen its relationships with entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing endless resources and training opportunities throughout our region. On June 16th, the 8(a) division brought on board its 14th new business since last year at this time. The 8(a) division continues to expand its portfolio and bring these new businesses on board, where we welcome the opportunity to work with them, providing guidance, so they grow and prosper with federal contracting opportunities. On June 22, 2015 Althea Harris, Assistant District Director Area 1, worked with the Miami SCORE chapter and the Miami Herald on a feature in the Herald called the Small Business Makeover. The makeover was part of an effort to provide AAA Million Autoparts, a small business owner and Emerging Leader participant, a much needed Business makeover to modernize their business. Harris was quoted in the article as recommending that the business owner register as a woman owned business thus making them "attractive to large government suppliers who are required to subcontract business". |
Touring AAA Million AutoParts: Margarita Hernandez, center, owner of AAA Million Auto Parts, Inc. and daughter Cristina Hernandes, at right, give tour to from left, Althea Harris, SBA representative, and SCORE counselors Raju Mohandes, Julio Cane and Orlando Espinosa. Picture courtesy of Miami Herald. | |  |
The Florida SBDC Network held its 2015 annual professional development conference in Miami June 22-26 at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. During the week, the network honored outstanding personnel, volunteers, and partners for their achievements as part of the 2015 Performance Excellence Awards, while broadening and cultivating skills to ensure continued excellence in helping Florida's small businesses grow and succeed. The conference featured four strategic learning tracks, which included Franklin Covey, the first week of training for the NDC Economic Development Finance Professional Certification, international trade, and marketing research and strategy. The network was also fortunate to receive a special visit and message from SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. Administrator Contreras-Sweet shared how SBDCs are a critical and essential partner in helping SBA achieve its mission and how the Florida SBDC is leading the way and setting an example for the rest of the nation.  On June 26, the SBA joined the Florida SBDC network on a jaunt to the upgraded Port of Miami. The city and the port have spent several hundred million dollars on highway and infrastructure upgrades. These upgrades were done to accommodate more freight and traffic as a result of the widening of the Panama Canal. | |  |
The Broward and Pasco-Hernando SCORE chapters are supporting SBA national initiative Summer of Mentoring – Encore Entrepreneur events, and have already begun marketing for their August events. If the participation rate is anything like last years' events then our registrations will surpass over 100 in each location, 2nd careers in the sun setting years is a hot topic in South Florida and the numbers never disappoint.  | | Georgia DistrictTerri Denison, District Director |
The SBA Georgia District office To Host: | |  |
Opportunities for Women in Federal Contracting Wednesday, July 29th, 2015 (8-12pm) ChallengeHER has assisted woman business owners all across the country to help them understand the Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Procurement Program, the federal procurement process, and to connect them with the right people. With this knowledge, you are much better positioned to grow your business and increase your revenue. WOSB federal contractors can have a unique opportunity to: >Learn about the WOSB Set Aside and how to market your business under this program >Contract Officers explain how to do business with their agency and the federal government in general >Benefit from the experience of women business owners on best practices and real-life stories >Get contracting advice and learn about resources in your local community >Participate in MatchMaking with federal buyers >Network with peer mentors and other women business owned firms Click Here for more information.  | | Kentucky DistrictRalph Ross, District Director KY Hosts Office of Advocacy Regional Roundtable Focus on Changes to "White Collar" Exemption for Overtime The Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration hosted a Small Business Regional Roundtable on July 16th in Louisville to discuss changes to the Department of Labor's Overtime Regulations. On June 30, 2015, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division released a proposed rule that revises the overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, specifically the "white collar" exemption from overtime pay for executive, administrative and professional employees. Ms. Mary Ziegler, Director, Division of Regulations, Legislation and Interpretation, from the U.S. Department of Labor, provided a brief description of this new regulation and answered questions from the audience. In addition, SBA representatives were also invited to discuss their programs, including Mr. Janis Reyes, Assistant Chief Counsel for the SBA Office of Advocacy in Washington and Mr. Mark Berson, Region IV Advocate for the Office of Advocacy. About 50 small business owners, state associations representing retail, restaurant, grocery, agriculture and other industries, congressional offices, area economic development organizations and chambers of commerce, as well as professionals interested in this regulation change, such as attorneys and CPAs attended. Public comments are due to DOL around September 6, 2015, and the Office of Advocacy and the DOL were seeking input from small business owners regarding this change. Some details of the proposed rule by DOL are as follows: - A double the salary threshold for employees who are eligible to receive overtime pay, from $23,660 to $50,440;
- The rule is not proposing regulatory changes to the duties tests, which require employees to perform certain primary duties to qualify for an overtime exemption. However, DOL is seeking feedback on whether these duties tests should be revised.
For more information on the proposed rule: |
 | | Mississippi DistrictJanita Stewart, District DirectorSBA Mississippi Office Hosts Statewide 8(a) Application & Destination HUBZone Conferences for the Public and Resource Partners and Stakeholders Roundtable In an effort to increase applications and expand the number and types of businesses certificated in SBA's 8(a) and HUBZone program portfolio in Mississippi, the Mississippi SBA District Office held events at the Mississippi Jackson State University's e-Center in Jackson, MS. On Tuesday, June 30th, training was conducted to help resource partners and other interested organizations better understand specifics of the program and the application process. Representatives from the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, South Delta Planning and Development District, Stover and Associates and the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority were in attendance. On Wednesday, July 1st, the SBA Mississippi District Office held its Statewide 8(a) and Destination HUBZone Conferences. Both Conferences were well attended with over 200 in attendance at the 8(a) Application and over 150 at the HUBZone. Participants from SBA's 8(a) and HUBZone Division included Robert Willis, Business Opportunity Specialist, King of Prussia; John Shoraka, Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development and Arthur Collins, Director of Business Development, Office of Management and Technical Assistance. As attendees participated the Matchmaking session to close out the event, a closed door Stakeholder Roundtable meeting was held with local and state officials to discuss strategies to create greater opportunities for representatives to enhance their communities through use of the HUBZone program. |
Janita Stewart, District Director, addressing the audience during the resource partner training | |  |
 SBOS; John Hendricks, Choctaw Tribal; Santiago Iturralde, IKBI; Ladd Simms, MS Valley State University; Janita Stewart; John Shoraka; Vic Sexton, City of Jackson; John Brandon, Mississippi Development Authority; Marcia McDowell, South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center; Henry Thomas, Jackson State University SBDC; Dr.William McHenry, JSU e-Center; MiltonChambliss, Claiborne County Economic Development.  | | North Carolina DistrictLynn Douthett, District Director North Carolina District Welcomes Mia Fagley Mia Fagley has joined the North Carolina District Office team as the new Lead Business Opportunity Specialist. She will oversee the 8(a) Business Development Program in North Carolina. SBA's 8(a) Program offers business development training for socially and economically disadvantaged business owners. The program also offers access to a variety of development services with the opportunity to receive federal contracts on a sole-source or limited competition basis. Mia's experience with the SBA began in 2008 working in the 8(a) Division at the Colorado District Office. While in Denver, she provided business development, Federal contract support, and other technical assistance and entrepreneurial training. Prior to joining the SBA, she worked in the lending industry with Wells Fargo Financial as well as positions in real estate and sales. Mia holds licenses in real estate and title for the State of Colorado. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado - Leeds School of Business and holds an MBA from Regis University. |
 | | Mia Fagley has joined the North Carolina District Officeteam as the new Lead Business Opportunity Specialist. Shewill oversee the 8(a) Business Development Program in North Carolina. |
 | | South Carolina DistrictElliott Cooper, District Director As part of the joint SBA and AARP "Summer of Encore Mentoring Initiative" promoting entrepreneurship among older Americans, the South Carolina District Office has partnered with AARP South Carolina to hold a free, four-part webinar series focused on starting, managing, financing and marketing a small business. Together, our office and AARP held the first webinar, "Business Plan Building Blocks," on July 23 to lots of great feedback. In keeping with the "Encore Entrepreneurship" theme, presenter Art Simpson, a certified SCORE mentor and president of MRT, Inc., was 54-years-old when he founded his own company. Now, we hope you can join us for the next webinars in the series. Thursday, July 30: Management Strategies for Business Success 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/management-strategies-for-business-success-tickets-17618732102 Thursday, August 6: Finding Funding: Business Financing Options 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-funding-business-financing-options-tickets-17618993885 Thursday, August 20: Building Your Best Marketing Plan Thursday, August 20, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-your-best-marketing-plan-tickets-17619212539
|
 | | Tennessee DistrictWalter Perry, District Director SBA lending in the Volunteer State is up 60% in the number of loans and 55% in number of dollars from FY 2014 to FY 2015. In fiscal year 2014 there were 287 loans for a total of $163 million, while in FY 2015 there are 458 loans totaling $252 million, as of June 30, 2015. The District Office is presenting the 6th Annual Procurement Summit on July 21st in Nashville with SBA resource partners, the TSBDC and SCORE. International trade events in July included visits to Nashville by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for two events, July 8th & 9th, presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration and covered by David Tiller, District International Trade Officer. Another international event covered by the TN DO was presented on July 16th, "Doing Business with China" also in Nashville. All three events were vitally concerned with helping small businesses protect and exploit their intellectual property outside the U.S., including copyright, patents and trademarks as well as the financing of intangibles in the international marketplace. During the month of July, Economic Development Specialist, Jacqueline Merritt will have conducted SBA Loan workshops in Hamilton County, Bedford County and in Cleveland, Tennessee. Gloria Armstead, Business Opportunity Specialist, presented an SBA program at the annual East Tennessee Purchasing Association event in Knoxville. On July 16th, PIO David Tiller appeared on the WFSK radio, "The Money Show" to promote two SBA events, both occurred on July 21st. At the first event, small business attendees met ten federal agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army-Fort Campbell, Department of Energy--Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and NASA Space Flight Center, to learn about federal contracting opportunities. Also on July 21st, following the Procurement Summit, the District Office, SBDC and SCORE, along with national SBA co-sponsor, Square, a credit and debit card processing firm, presented a discussion on new, more secure payment technologies for small businesses. Square's Head of Global Technology, Demetrios Marantis, was the presenter in the first half of the program, followed by presentations from SCORE and the Nashville Police Department addressing the technology implications of fraud and identity theft to the small business community. |
| | |
| 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 |  | |
