Please join Secretary Burwell from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, October 26th at 2:45pm ET for a business stakeholder call to kick-off the upcoming healthcare marketplace open enrollment period beginning November 1st.
WHO: Business leaders, business owners, agents & brokers
WHEN: Monday, October 26th at 2:45pm ET
RSVP: Please RSVP by clicking here (space is limited).
Please note this call is off the record and not intended for press purposes. All information provided should be treated as background information only.
What's Happening for Small Business In Your Area?
State By State
 | | Alabama DistrictTom Todt, Alabama District Director Administrator Contreras-Sweet met with the staff of the Alabama District on October 5 where she was presented a District "Challenge Coin" by DD Tom Todt. She also toured the Birmingham Disaster Loan Center and met with the staff there. Later she and Congresswoman Terri Sewell, (AL 7th District) conducted two roundtables with area business development officers, area lenders and local business owners. At the Economic Development/Lender Roundtable Ms. Contreras-Sweet presented a Growth Accelerator check to the Innovation Depot for their Velocity program. Business owners at the business roundtable had a chance to ask about SBA programs and get an update from the Administrator as well as Congresswoman Sewell. |
 | | The SBA Alabama District Office staff: (Front Row Left to Right) Lead BOS Carol Ann House, BOS Teresa Wilson, AO Pat Row (Back Row Left to Right) DDD Raymond Hembree, LRS Rod Perkins, District Counsel Bill Howell, Administrator, DD Tom Todt, Lead LRS L.D. Ralph, LRS/PIO David Ramp (Not pictured: BOS Minnie A. Arrington and BOS JaWanda L. Henderson) |
Administrator Contreras-Sweet receives a "Challenge Coin" from DD Tom Todt | |  |
 | | Growth Accelerator Check Presentation (Left to Right) Tom Todt, DD, Devon Laney, Innovation Depot, Mayor William Bell, City of Birmingham, Administrator Contreras-Sweet, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, AL 7th District |
 | | North Florida DistrictWilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director |
The SBA recently named Gilbert Colon as the Deputy District Director (DDD) for the North Florida District Office. Deputy Colon previously served as the DDD in the South Florida District Office for 15 years prior to his retirement in 2011. Deputy Colon replaces Debbie Brown, who retired earlier this year. | |  |
Deputy Colon has an expansive 35 year career both in the public and private sectors. He has served two White House appointments, once as Deputy Special Assistant to President Carter and as the Associate Director of Presidential Personnel under President Clinton. Deputy Colon has worked in senior management for various private corporations and has also owned and operated several businesses. Additionally, Deputy Colon has served as Acting Director/Deputy for the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
 | | North Florida District Director Wilfredo Gonzalez participated in a panel discussion at the University of North Florida called Hispanic Men of Influence. The panel discusses a range of topics including steps for success, mentoring, growth strategies, and the impact of growing up Hispanic. |
Pictured Left to right: Albert Colom, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services, UNF; Cesar Grijota, Vice President of VyStar Credit Union, Kernan Branch; Wilfredo Gonzalez, SBA District Director; and David Manjarres, Executive Board Member, UNF Latin American Student Organization.
 | | South Florida DistrictFrancisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director As the nation approaches the celebration of Veterans' Day 2015, the South Florida District Office will be reaching out to veteran business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to make them aware of the many programs and services SBA offers to help them start, grow, and succeed in business. Spearheading the District's outreach to veterans is Senior Master Sergeant Tina M. Davis, U.S. Air Force Reserves. In June 1990 Tina joined the Air Force Reserves as an Airman Basic at Homestead (FL) Air Reserve Base. Her commitment to her country has taken her all over the world including to Germany and El Salavador, Quatar and Kuwait. Tina just completed a 5 ½ year Active Duty Tour at the US Southern Command and now serves as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee for Operation and Readiness. She holds degrees in Business Administration and in Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University. At the SBA, Tina serves as the Veterans Business Ownership Representative, helping veterans access resources for their businesses. In November she will be engaged in presentations and outreach to the veteran community of South Florida. We salute her and her fellow veterans and thank them for their service to our country. |
Thank you, Senior Master Sergeant Tina M. Davis, U.S. Air Force Reserves for your service. | |  |
 | | Georgia DistrictTerri Denison, District Director The Georgia District Office in conjunction with SBA's Offices of Native American Affairs and Veterans Affairs along with the Georgia State SBDC will host the 2015 American Supplier Initiative-Atlanta, a training forum and matchmaker event on Thursday, November 5 at the Georgia State University Student Center. The full day event will include a morning of speakers and panelists designed to sharpen the procurement related skills of attendees. The afternoon will be a matchmaker event with Atlanta and regional based private sector and government procurement buyers. The event is targeted to Native American and Veteran-owned companies and will begin at 8:30. To register as a participant, visit: https://asi.mybusinessmatches.com/atlanta |
 | | Kentucky DistrictRalph Ross, District Director Kentucky Receives $400K from SBA for Small Business Exporting SBA announced recently that 40 awards from the agency's State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program are being made to states and territories, including $400,000 for Kentucky, to increase small businesses exporting. Nationwide, small businesses now have access to $17.4 million in funding to help them enter and compete in the global marketplace. The purpose of the 2015 awards is for states to assist small businesses with export related activities or other export initiatives that are in line with the objectives of the program. These objectives include participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, subscription services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as design of international marketing campaigns, export trade show exhibits, training workshops and more. SBA Kentucky District Director Ralph Ross stated, "The STEP program has jump-started exporting for a number of small businesses in Kentucky recently. Because 95% of the world's population lives outside the U.S. borders, this program allows small businesses to access new customers and increase revenues in a very effective way." Recipients in the first two rounds of STEP awards, in FY 2011 and FY 2012, reported a strong return on investment of over 19:1. The funds were awarded to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) again this year. The KCED said Kentucky exported $27.5 billion in products to about 200 countries last year, marking the fourth straight year of gains. For additional information on the STEP program, call the SBA Kentucky District Office at 502-582-5971 or https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oit/resources/14315. |
 | | Mississippi DistrictJanita Stewart, District DirectorU.S. Small Business Administration Awards Mississippi Development Authority Funding for State Trade and Export Promotion Program On Wednesday, October 7th, the U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) funding totaling $540,100 for the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion Program. The STEP Program allows MDA to provide financial and technical assistance to small and medium sized Mississippi companies interested in growing their business through trade. Administered by MDA's Trade Bureau, the program helps reduce some of the financial obstacles qualifying businesses face when identifying export opportunities. "I appreciate the U.S. Small Business Administration for once again awarding MDA funding for the State Trade and Export Program, said Gov. Phil Bryant. "Exporting is a major component of our state's economy, and it also generates economic opportunities for Mississippi businesses and creates jobs here at home." The STEP program allows the state's new-to-export companies and existing exporters to explore new trade opportunities on a global scale while significantly alleviating some of the financial and logistical stresses that occur when pursuing export opportunities." The Mississippi STEP Program helps offset certain costs related to participating in trade missions and other international business development activities. The program reimburses eligible businesses up to 50 percent of their travel costs, including airfare and lodging, and it provides translation services at no cost. Additional services may include pre-arranged appointments with prospective qualified buyers, local transportation assistance and a customized trip itinerary. |
Left to right are: Janita Stewart, SBA MS District Director and Phil Bryant, Mississippi Governor. | |  |
Left to right are: John Henry Jackson, Protocol & Special Projects Officer; Global Division of MDA; Rhonda Fisher, SBA Lender Relations Specialist; Vickie Watters Martin, Canada Trade and General Trade Manager, International Trade Division, MDA; Nathanael Gassett , STEP Grant & Trade Specialist, International Trade Division, MDA; Stevie Cantrell, Project Manager, Light Manufacturing, Energy, Auto Suppliers, Global Division of MDA; Rose Boxx, Director, International Trade Division of MDA; Janita Stewart, SBA MS District Director and Gary Reed, SBA MS Deputy District Director.
Mississippi is known as a "giving state" and ranks in the top tier in terms of charitable contributions. SBA employees demonstrated the good nature of 'giving' during this year's "Feds Feed Families Campaign" by more than doubling donations in 2015 by increasing total weight from 288 lbs. to 647.6 lbs. "I just want to give a special thanks to everyone in the Mississippi District and Gulfport Branch Offices," said Stewart. "Jeremy Sanford did an excellent job of coordinating this effort, and our generosity and dedication really serves to make a difference."
Gary Reed, DDD; Joyce Conner, BOS; Deborah Dean, LRS; Jeremy Sanford, EDS; Rhonda Fisher, SLRS; Alice Doss, SBOS; Janita Stewart, DD; and Rosetta Harris, LRS of the SBA Mississippi District Office. Not pictured are Lance Foster, BM; Bridget Johnson-Fells, EDS and Derek Eady, EDS of the Gulfport Branch Office. | |  |
 | | North Carolina DistrictLynn Douthett, District Director
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SBA and Dept. of Homeland Security-Citizenship & Immigration Service team up to help New Americans.
North Carolina Deputy District Director Mike Arriola (above left) met with CIS Field Office Director Leander Holston on Oct. 1 in Charlotte to talk about ways in which the SBA can partner with CIS to bring small business resources to newly sworn citizens of the United States. The Charlotte CIS field office has 60 – 80 New Americans sworn in each Tuesday and Thursday. The SBA plans to have entrepreneurship workshops available for them to attend at the district office on an ongoing basis.
 | | South Carolina DistrictElliott Cooper, District Director Three weeks ago, South Carolina was hit with what has been called the thousand-year flood. Individuals lost their lives. Houses and businesses were swallowed by floodwaters. Thousands of lives were changed forever. Now, it is time to rebuild. |
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet came to Columbia last Wednesday, October 21, to announce SBA resources for the thousands of individuals and businesses affected by the historic South Carolina flood. After meeting with South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and City of Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, she urged South Carolinians to take advantage of SBA assistance.
During her visit, Administrator Contreras-Sweet spoke about the following vital information for all South Carolinians affected by the flood:
What is SBA disaster assistance, and what does it mean for South Carolina?
The SBA offers long-term, low-interest disaster loans of up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters can also borrow up to $40,000 dollars to replace damaged or destroyed personal property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing or vehicles.
The SBA offers long-term, low-interest disaster loans of up to $2 million to businesses and private nonprofits to repair or replace real estate, machinery, equipment or inventory.
SBA Economic Injury loans are also available for local businesses have lost business and revenue due to flooding. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
What areas are eligible for assistance?
The disaster declaration now covers the following South Carolina counties: Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg.
Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Beaufort, Chester, Chesterfield, Dillon, Edgefield, Hampton, Lancaster, Laurens, Marlboro, McCormick, Saluda and Union.
How can affected individuals and businesses apply?
· To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register at www.DisasterAssistance.govor m.fema.gov for mobile devices or by calling the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362.
· South Carolina residents can apply at one of 23 joint FEMA-SBA disaster recovery centers located throughout the state. Affected businesses and nonprofits also have the option to apply at a business recovery center in Columbia, Conway or North Charleston. For the full list of disaster and business recovery centers, see https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/sc/columbia/resources/scflood-disaster-recovery-centers-near-you.
· Applicants can also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
What is the deadline to apply for SBA disaster assistance?
The deadline to apply for physical property damage assistance is December 4, 2015. The deadline to apply for economic injury assistance is July 5, 2016.
Where can I get more information about SBA disaster loans?
Additional information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955(800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
What other kind of SBA assistance is available?
· SBA is making $133,000 dollars in microloan capital available through the Beaufort Black Chamber of Commerce to support the recovery of affected underserved entrepreneurs.
· SBA resource partners SCORE, the Small Business Development Center and the South Carolina Women's Business Center are also available to assist small businesses affected by the flood with free, confidential business counseling.
For more information on how the SBA can help you or your business, please call our office at 803-765-5377.
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet speaks to the media on October 21. Pictured L-R: SBA District Director Elliott Cooper, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and SBA Disaster Team member Michael Peacock | |  |
 | | Tennessee DistrictWalter Perry, District Director The Tennessee District Office held several events recently to advance Federal Contracting. In Nashville, a Government Contracting Workshop was presented September 28-29 by SBA during Minority Enterprise Development Week that included updates on 8(a) Business Development Program, Mentor Protégé and Joint Venture Agreements along with a panel of successful 8(a) graduates who offered their advice to those seeking to participate in SBA's contracting programs. In Kingsport, the District Office participated in the Holston Army Ammunition Plant's Industry Day on October 21. International Trade "export boot camps" were held by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center with the District Office marketing SBA's international trade loan capabilities. The Memphis Emerging Leaders Class of 2015 will graduate on October 28, bringing the total number of graduates to over 100 since the initiative was first offered eight years ago. Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated through the District's participation in the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber's activities, including their annual awards event on October 15. |
