 | | Alabama District Office Thomas Todt, District Director |
Mayor Don Kyle has taken the Startup in a Day Pledge, making Decatur the first city in Alabama to participate in the Small Business Administration (SBA) initiative to actively support entrepreneurs.
The initiative aims to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business by reducing the amount of time it takes to register and apply for permits and licenses on the local level. The pledge includes creating a "Startup in a Day" online tool that lets most entrepreneurs identify and apply within one day for all requirements to launch a business in the participating communities. The ultimate goal of the SBA initiative is for small business owners to be able to manage and complete most of their regulatory obligations within a single, easy-to-use online system.
In taking the pledge, Mayor Kyle noted Decatur already is actively taking steps to streamline the business licensing process. "We are in the process of implementing a new, integrated software system that will allow online capabilities we've never had before. We also expect to develop checklists, both online and paper, that will aid new business prospects in preparing to apply for a business license and in completing the application. Small business is an important part of the Decatur economy and we are working hard to be a place businesses can begin and succeed for the long term," said Kyle. Mayor Kyle is also interested in challenging his fellow mayors to take the pledge as well.
The Alabama District office is excited to be hosting the upcoming 2016 Office of Field Operations Management Conference. The event will bring senior SBA leadership and management from all of SBA's 10 Regions, 68 Districts, and program offices from headquarters in Washington DC. The Alabama District staff is cranking up the southern hospitality (and the humidity) in preparation for the conference.
 | | North Florida District Office Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director |
The North Florida District Office presented a workshop for Encore Entrepreneurs, as part of the national "Summer of Mentoring" initiative. The event was hosted in Palatka, Florida on June 14 by the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. A representative from each of the area's local resource partners participated in the event.
Pictured: Pat Blanchard, Director, Jacksonville Women's Business Center; Cheryl Lynch, Consultant, SBDC; Annette Paulson, SBA Economic Development Specialist; and Bruce Reirden, SCORE Counselor. Missing from the photo is Nayana Sen, SBA Public Affairs Specialist.
Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director and Gilbert Colón, Deputy District Director toured the facility of Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc. on June 8. The team at ERPI was selected as the 2016 National Exporter of the Year.
Pictured L to R: David Bello, Jr., General Manager; Wilfredo Gonzalez, District Director; Gilbert Colón, Deputy District Director; and John Hartnett, VP of Global Operations.
 | | South Florida District Office Francisco "Pancho" Marrero |
On June 3rd in Orlando, FL, SBA Region IV Administrator Cassius Butts (pictured below, far left) moderated the "Access to Capital Panel" during the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando's Hispanic Business Conference and Expo. He was joined by (L to R): Vince LoPresti, Senior Area Manager, SBA South Florida DO; Christine Sepulveda, Sales Director of Los Cidrines Bakery; Monika Mantilla, CEO of Altura Capital Group, the first Hispanic-owned SBA SBIC fund in the Nation; and Anthony Velez, Business Specialist, Wells Fargo- South Orlando. During the Conference, the North and South Florida District Offices also signed a 2-year Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the Chamber to develop a strong, statewide, working relationship that will foster small business development and expansion especially within Florida's Hispanic communities.
 | | Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director |
Terri Denison, district director, Georgia District Office, delivers keynote remarks at the grand opening for Georgia State University's Veteran Business Outreach Center in Statesboro, Georgia. "We're truly a state of entrepreneurs and truly a state of veterans, and that combination is what made having a VBOC here make sense," Denison said." In fiscal year 2015, almost $73 million in SBA-backed loans were made to Georgia veterans, and about $800 million in federal contracts went to Georgia-based businesses owned by veterans or service-disabled military personnel, she said.
Nearly 50 people attended the early-June ceremony.
 | | Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director |
Summer of Encore Entrepreneurship in Kentucky
The SBA Kentucky District Office has partnering with AARP – Kentucky for the past three years to provide "Encore Entrepreneur" events across the state. This year is no exception.
Research has found that 25% of Americans ages of 44 – 70 are interested in starting a business or nonprofit venture within the next 10 years. Nearly half of these aspiring entrepreneurs claim a desire to be Encore Entrepreneurs.
For individuals age 50+, these events enable Encore Entrepreneurs to use their experience, knowledge and skills to become business owners and job creators, while exposing SBA and its partners to AARP's network of members in this target market and introducing those members to SBA's array of entrepreneurial resources and programs.
The SBA Kentucky District Office has already held two events, one on May 11 in Louisville and a second one on June 8 in Lexington, both with AARP and SCORE. A third event will be held on July 13 in Newport with AARP and the Northern Kentucky University SBDC. More events are being planned later this summer.
For more information, go to www.sba.gov/ky and look under Small Business Events.
 | | Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director |
On June 16, 2016 the SBA Mississippi District Office attended the Women's Business Center of Mississippi Open House. The Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc. (MMBA) is helping to empower women to grow strong, sustainable businesses with the opening of the Women's Business Center of Mississippi. The Open House took place on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the Center's location at the Mississippi e-center at JSU (1230 Raymond Road, Suite 1200, Jackson, MS 39204).
The Women's Business Center of Mississippi (WBC) will assist businesses with the skills and business structure essential to competing for both government and private opportunities. The WBC seeks to "level the playing field" for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the business world. It is the only SBA-sponsored Center in the state, joining more than 100 SBA Centers across the country.
(L – R) Honorable Darrel McQuirter, President Hinds County Board of Supervisors, William E. McHenry, Ph.D. Executive Director, JSU e-Center, Erika McMillon, Program Director Women Business Center of Mississippi, Shellie Michael, CEO MS Minority Business Alliance, Inc., Honorable Tony Yarber, Mayor City of Jackson, Gary Reed. MS Deputy District Director U.S. Small Business Administration
(L – R) William E. McHenry, Ph.D. Executive Director, JSU e-Center, Charlita S. Cloman, Vice President, Community Affairs Manager, Regions Bank, Chris Wallace, Vice President / Business Banker & SBA Lender Regions Bank, Honorable Tony Yarber, Mayor City of Jackson, Erika McMillon, Program Director Women Business Center of Mississippi, Shellie Michael, CEO MS Minority Business Alliance, Inc., Janita Stewart, MS District Director U.S. Small Business Administration, Gary Reed, MS Deputy District Director U.S. Small Business Administration, Honorable Darrel McQuirter, President Hinds County Board of Supervisors
(L – R) Bridget Johnson Fells, Economic Development Specialist/DOTR and Shellie Michael, CEO MS Minority Business Alliance, Inc.
 | | North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director |
Summer of Encore Mentoring in North Carolina The "Summer of Encore Mentoring" is part of a joint initiative by the SBA and AARP to promote entrepreneurship among individuals ages 50 and older. Special events match these so-called "encore entrepreneurs" with mentors, business owners and community leaders who have small business experience and can provide advice, expertise and technical assistance.
On August 17th, the first of the North Carolina events, the Encore Entrepreneur Summer Roundtable, will be held at the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, 1451 S. Elm Eugene St. in Greensboro NC from 10 am – 1 pm. This event will feature a special roundtable with small business experts and speed mentoring sessions for those interested in entrepreneurship. Host organizations for this event include SCORE, the Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Small Business Center at Guilford Technical Community College. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. To register, please email DarLinda Finch or ring 36-334-4822, ext. 62001.
Asheville and Raleigh will also host encore mentoring events this summer. Check back for dates, times and locations at https://www.sba.gov/encorementoring.
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An Encore Entrepreneur event in Chapel Hill last August which drew 90 participants. | |  |
 | | South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director |
SBA One Training:
Launched in March of 2015, SBA One is an automated lending platform that serves to take the mystery out of SBA lending by streamlining the lending process. This platform assists lenders with everything from determining loan eligibility right through closing their loans. PLP lenders submitting loan applications via GP must use SBA One starting July 2016. Non-delegated authority lenders must use SBA One starting September 2016. Learn how to use this system NOW by attending this training session!
Date:
July 19, 2016 | 2:00 pm EDT - 3:30 pm EDT
Contact: frank.anderson@sba.gov
 | | Tennessee District Office John Mallano, Acting District Director |
Tennessee/Kentucky Procurement and Matchmaking Conference July 28 in Clarksville, Tennessee
The Tennessee and Kentucky District Offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration will present the Tennessee/Kentucky Procurement & Matchmaking Conference on July 28, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Austin Peay State University (APSU) Morgan Conference Center, hosted by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at APSU. Attendees will be able to receive one-on-one counseling related to management, marketing, operations, and other business services that meets your needs. Lenders will be available to meet one-on-one to discuss financing options. Procurement officials as well as industry officials in the Exhibit Hall will be available for discussions with attendees. The prerequisite for Procurement Matchmaking is registration in the System for Award Management, www.sam.gov
Confirmed agencies include: NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center, GSA, Fort Campbell –Mission, Installation & Contracting Command, National Guard USFPO-Tennessee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Memphis & Nashville, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Blue Grass Army Depot, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Department of the Air Force, U.S. Postal Service, Knox County Government, Nashville Metro Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory- URS-CH2M Oak Ridge (UCOR), State of Tennessee - Governor's Office of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
Counseling and Resources will be provided by SCORE, SBDC, and Women's Business Centers from both states. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is at http://www.tnptac.org/ Contact theSBA – Tennessee District Office, 615/736-5881, www.sba.gov/tn
Tennessee welcomes SBA Administrator Contreras-Sweet as she visits Memphis on July 6th and tours the offices of Carpenter Primary Healthcare, Tennessee 2016 Small Business Week Minority Small Business of the Year and client of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Southwest Community College and the Renaissance Business Center in Memphis.
On July 29, the District Office and the Nashville SCORE chapter will present an Encore Entrepreneurship event to aspiring entrepreneurs who are using their knowledge, passion, life and professional experience toward creating a small business. Check back for dates, times and locations at https://www.sba.gov/encorementoring.
