SBA Region IV:  SBA Online Courses Go to www.sba.gov for information on SBA programs and services.
 Veterans, whether you are starting or growing your business, SBA can help. Visit the resources SBA has for Veterans here. 2017 National Small Business Week April 30-May 6, 2017  Creating Jobs By Investing In Small Business As Washington prepares for inauguration, a study released today conducted by the Library of Congress' Federal Research Division provides insight into a topic that interests every Administration – private sector job creation. Simple Social Media Guide for Small Businesses Whether you've been active or considering a brand refresh, focus on a few best practices when approaching social media.
How to Use the 'Rule of Three' to Create a Business Credit Profile Did you know a business credit profile plays a direct role in a company's ability to obtain credit that it can use to purchase products or services?
How to Know When to Change Your Business Plan Sometimes you need to stick to your business plan to make it work. Even a mediocre strategy consistently executed over time is better than a series of brilliant strategies that keep going off in different directions. Strategy often takes time. Contracting: Does Your Small Business Qualify? Small businesses do big business with the federal government. Think about the possibilities of generating sales and revenue with the government.  Connect with lenders with the new SBA LINC tool to Find lenders in your area.
 Did you know the federal government buys nearly $100 billion worth of goods and services from small businesses each year? Government contracts can offer significant opportunities for small businesses, but selling to the government requires a very different approach than selling to the commercial sector. Understand how to: - Qualify as a small business
- Determine your NAICS code
- Register for government contracting
Learn more Main: 404-331-4999 region_4@sba.gov
Leadership: Elliott O. Cooper, Acting Regional Administrator SBA Region IV Office Staff:
Tawana Farley, Regional Office Manager tawana.farley@sba.gov 404-331-4999 Lola Kress, Regional Communications Director lola.kress@sba.gov 404-331-2798  | | @SBASoutheast |
|  On February 14, 2017, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nomination of Linda E. McMahon as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. As Administrator of the SBA, McMahon will direct a federal agency with more than 2,000 full-time employees, with a leading role in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs secure financing, technical assistance and training, and federal contracts. SBA also plays a leading role in disaster recovery by making low interest loans. McMahon is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Women's Leadership LIVE, as well as the co-founder and former CEO of WWE. She was the Republican nominee to represent Connecticut in the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012. McMahon is an advocate for small business and continues to promote entrepreneurship, particularly among women. McMahon is a graduate of East Carolina University. She and her husband, Vince, have two adult children and six grandchildren. Watch McMahon's Statement to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship HERE. Find a VBOC Near You: The Veteran's Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) may be one of the best small business resources available for veteran entrepreneurs. The mission of the VBOC program, which is funded by the SBA, is to create, develop and retain veteran-owned small business enterprises. The centers assist thousands of entrepreneurs each year. The VBOCs in Region IV are located: Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College Coverage: Florida Address: 5230 US-98, Panama City, FL 32401 Website: www.vboc.org Telephone: (800) 542-7232 | (805) 769-1551, ext. 3327 Email: bpeacock@vboc.org (link sends e-mail) Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University Coverage: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina Address: 1200 Murchison Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28301 Website: www.fsuvboc.com Telephone: (910) 672-2683 Email: rrehder@uncfusu.edu (link sends e-mail) Veterans Business Outreach Center at Mississippi State University Coverage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee Address: 60 Technology Blvd, Ste 105 D, Starkville, MS 39759 Website: www.vboc.msstate.edu Telephone: (662) 325-4990 Email: pstewart@business.msstate.edu (link sends e-mail) Veterans Business Outreach Center at Georgia Southern University Coverage: Georgia Address: 58 E Main St, Statesboro, GA 30458 Website: http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu/big/big-programs/vboc Telephone: (912) 478-2005 Email: jhorstman@georgiasouthern.edu  | |
Tom Todt, District Director |
SBA Alabama District Office Lead Lender Relations Specialist L.D. Ralph speaks to DeKalb County High School students during the annual Made in DeKalb Expo. The event promotes local businesses and service providers. SBA Resource Partner, Women's Business Center of North Alabama/Technology Regional Innovation Cluster-Huntsville (TechRich), also participated in the Made in DeKalb Expo. Above: Thom Rigsby, TechRich contractor, and Floyd Martin, TechRich Project Manager, staff the booth during the Made in DeKalb Expo. Alabama District Director Celebrates 20 Years of Federal Service: In other SBA Alabama District Office news, District Director Tom Todt recently received his 20-year service certificate and pin. Todt has been the Director since 2008, and has 12 years of creditable active duty military service in the U.S. Army. Congratulations, Tom!  | |
Wilfredo J. Gonzalez,
District Director |
The North Florida District staff participated in an informational meeting/training provided by Florida Coastal School of Law on providing assistance to startup businesses on their legal needs. The college provides free legal assistance to area startups, and will work with the office to provide some training to local entrepreneurs that will benefit. The school provides a free law clinic run by law students that need the practice, and provides custom agreements, counseling, and general training.  Above Pictured L to R: Donna Padgug, EDS; Katharine Hartland, Supervising Attorney and Florida Coastal School of Law Professor; Annette Paulson, EDS; Jay Choi, BOS; and Tisa Clark, BOS SBA Staff Tour National Entrepreneur Center Orlando: Gilbert Colón, Deputy District Director; Ed Ramos, Senior Area Manager; and Nayana Sen, Public Affairs Specialist recently toured the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC) in Orlando, Florida. The NEC hosts several of SBA's resource and community partners in Central Florida. The group met resource partners including with Eunice Choi, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida and Dick Meyer, SCORE Orlando Chapter Chair. Additionally, the group met with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida and Prospera (formerly Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Central Florida), both of which have active Strategic Alliance Memorandums in place with the SBA.  Above Pictured L to R: Ed Ramos, Orlando Senior Area Manager; Margie Viera, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Director of Business Development; Gaby Ortigoni, Vice President, Prospera; Gilbert Colón, SBA Deputy District Director; and Frank Lopez, New President for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida  | |
Francisco Marrero, District Director |
SBA South Florida District Director Pancho Marrero addressed more than 80 lenders during a Small Business Lender Forum on January 26, hosted by the Florida SBDC Network, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (CDC) and Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders. He thanked the lenders in attendance for assisting the District in reaching over $1 billion in loan guarantees for the second year in a row. The program included information on how lenders can collaborate better with the SBDC for clients seeking funding and for managerial support after their clients have received funding.   | |
Terri Denison,
District Director |
 Georgia District Director Terri Denison and Deputy District Director Rosemarie Drake, led break-out sessions during the American Express OPEN for Government Contracting Success conference in Atlanta. The one-day event brought together vendors, potential and current business owners, government agencies, procurement specialist and others in the contracting and business community. Denison and Drake, in separate sessions, discussed how to get started in the government contracting arena and how to access capital to fund a winning bid. American Express created the OPEN for Government Contracting series to provide businesses with valuable resources and connections to help them strategically grow by selling to the government. The conference featured seminars, panel discussions, vendor demonstrations, networking sessions and even business services like webpage design and professional headshots. More than 700 people attended the event in downtown Atlanta.  | |
Ralph Ross,
District Director |
 Each year, SBA celebrates Women's' History Month and highlights SBA resources for women business owners. Learn more about SBA Women's Business Resources and For more details, visit www.sba.gov/ky or call 502-582-5971. Read Women Small Business Success Stories from the SBA Kentucky District Office: · Blue Halo Med Spa · Puzzles Academy and Puzzles Fun Dome · Strategic Communications · Marine Solutions, Inc. · Custom Officials Wear, LLC  | |
Janita Stewart, District Director |
On February 6th, Mississippi District Director Janita Stewart and Deputy District Director Gary Reed visited the Joint Field Office and met with SBA Office of Disaster Assistance, FEMA and MEMA staff located at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS. The visit was due to severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding incurred on January 20th and 21st. The primary counties included Forrest, Lamar, Lauderdale and Perry and economic Injury assistance was provided to 14 contiguous Mississippi counties. As of February 14th, more than $2.42 million has been provided to small businesses and homeowners. Homeowners and small business owners that require financial recovery assistance are asked to apply for low-interest loans by calling SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955. For more information on all disaster declarations, visit https://www.sba.gov/loans-grants/see-what-sba-offers/sba-loan-programs/disaster-loans/current-disaster-declarations.   | |
Lynn Douthett, District Director |
Fayetteville North Carolina Climbing Gym remains open after Hurricane Matthew with the help of SBA Disaster Assistance Late last fall Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc in the southeastern United States. North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia were devastated by flood waters and high winds. No one knows that better than Michael Pinkston, owner of The Climbing Place in Fayetteville, NC. The Climbing Place is an indoor climbing center with an 18,000 square foot climbing surface. They offer climbing classes, birthday parties, and special programs for children. There is also a retail store for climbing and backpacking enthusiasts. On October 8, 2016, Matthew swept through the city and more than two feet of water rushed into the climbing center. The damage was extensive. All of the safety mats were soaked, as were the offices. Electrical wiring was damaged, too. Michael and his staff were not able to return to the business until several days later. After a local official informed him about SBA disaster loans, Michael visited the Business Recovery Center that opened up in Fayetteville to support businesses affected by the storm. Mr. Johnnie Marshburn from the North Carolina Small Business & Technology Development Center helped with the application and Michael received a $325,000 disaster business loan to make the necessary repairs. "There are many caring individuals whose job it is to help you recover from Hurricane Matthew," Michael said. To date over 2,500 SBA Disaster loans for over $91 million have been approved in North Carolina for homes, businesses and economic injury to provide relief for the damage caused by Matthew which affected over 50 counties in the state. While the filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage has passed, the deadline for economic injury applications is July 10, 2017. Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Sandra Lawson, Public Affairs Specialist in SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance (far right) presents a ceremonial check to Michael Pinkston (center) and the staff of The Climbing Place in Fayetteville, NC.  | |
Elliott O. Cooper,
District Director |
Elliott Cooper was interviewed by University of South Carolina's broadcasting students. The students were very interested in what the SBA offers and how we help startups and small businesses succeed. The first interview, Mr. Cooper talked about counseling, capital, contracting and disaster. In the second interview he discussed some of the challenges small businesses face and offered some advice on how we assist them. The interviews will air on USC's campus television station in coming weeks.  Above: On February 2nd and February 9, 2017, University of South Carolina Broadcasting Students interview Elliott Cooper, SBA South Carolina District Director  | | LaTanya Channel, District Director |
The SBA Tennessee District Office Has a New District Director: LaTanya Channel Congratulations to LaTanya Channel (pictured above), who was recently named as the new District Director of the SBA Tennessee District Office. LaTanya came to the SBA in 2005, after having served at the US Department of Agriculture in Washington DC. Prior to joining the Tennessee District Office, she served as Senior Advisor in SBA's Office of 8(a) Business Development; Chief of HUBZone Certification; and Chief of Small Disadvantaged Business Certification —all at SBA's Washington DC headquarters office. She is a graduate of Rutgers-Newark School of Law and began her small business career by providing legal representation and counsel to small business owners. She earned her undergraduate degree at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. LaTanya joined the SBA Tennessee District Office as Deputy District Director in July 2014 and was announced as the Director in January 2017. Meet SBA's New Senior Area Manager in Memphis Eric Terrell has been hired as SBA's new Senior Area Manager at the Memphis satellite office. Eric comes to the SBA Tennessee District Office from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in Kentucky, where he was a Marketing Specialist in the Louisville office. Eric's marketing territory included all of Kentucky and the middle part of Tennessee, and has extensive experience in federal government contracting and the GSA Schedule. He is a retired military Veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps for over twenty years. |
