Tuesday, April 27, 2010

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Offers Government Contracting Briefings For Small Business Owners


Learn how the SBA helps small businesses compete in the government procurement marketplace.

SEATTLE- The Seattle District Office of the SBA is offering monthly briefings at the downtown Seattle District Office. Briefings will help small business owners who are interested in gaining access to federal and private procurement markets and prepare small firms for procurement and other business opportunities. The focus of the program is to provide information on federal government certifications, such as; 8(a), Hubzone, Veteran/service disabled, Veteran, and women-owned. Information on management and technical assistance resources available to assist small business owners with selling to the government will also be discussed.

The sessions will be conducted by our Business Development Specialists, Seattle District Office. Topics covered:

§ What are the steps in getting ready to sell to the government
§ How does the SBA 8(a) program work
§ What are the other certification programs
§ Who are the technical assistance providers
§ Q & A

Where and When
4th Thursday of each month
April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, August 26
8:30 – 9:30 am
SBA Seattle District
Education and Training Center
2401 4th Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, 98121
Call 206-553-7310 to register

The SBA is a federal agency providing financial and business development assistance to startup and existing small businesses. Space is limited; register early to reserve a spot. For more information call 206-553-7310.

Monday, April 19, 2010

SBA Recovery Lending Extended Through May

Administrator Mills presses for longer-term extension for successful programs

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed legislation yesterday providing $80 million in additional funding to continue important enhancements in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s two key small business loan programs. The enhancements, first made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, include a higher guarantee on some SBA-backed loans and small business fee relief.

The SBA estimates the $80 million will support about $2.8 billion in small business lending under the 7(a) and 504 programs.

“Small businesses across the country have been able to secure critical financing as a result of the Recovery Act loan provisions and the continued interim funding we’ve received for the program,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “The increased guarantees and reduced fees on SBA loans have generated more than $25 billion in new loans to small business owners and brought more than 1,200 lenders back to SBA loan programs. In fact, the first two quarters of the current fiscal year have been our best two opening quarters ever for the 7(a) program, with more than $7 billion in guaranteed loans. These programs have been successful in helping jump-start our economy, which is why we will continue to work with Congress on a longer term extension of the increased guarantee and reduced fees.

“We also know that small businesses could greatly benefit from the additional tools the President has proposed, including higher SBA loan limits and refinancing for commercial property mortgages, which could help thousands of small businesses avoid potential foreclosure. Small businesses need these improvements to ensure their access to the capital they need to drive economic growth and create jobs in communities all across the country.”

As part of the Recovery Act enacted on Feb. 17, 2009, SBA received $730 million to help small businesses, including $375 million to increase the SBA guarantee on 7(a) loans to 90 percent and to reduce borrower fees on most 7(a) and 504 loans. The funds for these programs were exhausted on Nov. 23, 2009, and an additional $125 million was provided in December. Those funds were exhausted in late February, 2010, and an additional $60 million was provided subsequently. SBA was authorized for an additional $40 million in late March.

Under the new extension SBA may continue to reduce loan fees in its 7(a) and 504 programs and to provide higher guarantee levels on 7(a) loans through May 2010, or until the funds provided under the bill are exhausted.

This extension has no effect on the continued availability of financing under other SBA Recovery Act programs, including SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program and the agency’s Microloan program. Recovery Act funding still remains available for both of those programs.

Release Date: April 16, 2010 Contact: Hayley Matz (202) 205-6948
Release Number: 10-15 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

U.S. SBA and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Bellingham Offer Lender Roundtable


Roundtable for small business lenders or technical assistance providers.


BELLINGHAM – Does your lending institution provide small business financing? Are you a technical service provider for small business owners? Has your bank or credit union provided SBA assistance in the past and is interested in starting up again? If so, you are encouraged to attend this free event. Our roundtables cover the following:

 SBA 7(a) loan program updates and developments
 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Updates
 SBA 504 Program updates and developments
 USDA Lending Program updates
 Technical assistance resources and opportunities
 Plenty of Q & A

Roundtable facilitated by Jennifer Shelton, Certified Business Advisor, SBDC, Bellingham. Featured speakers include; Kim Willis, Ameritrust; Pat Rogers, Evergreen Business Capital; and Elizabeth Rusnak, Northwest Business Development; Tuana Jones, USDA, and Mark Costello, SBA.

Where and When
Thursday, April 15th
10:30 am – 12:00 noon
SBDC Bellingham
115 Unity Street, Suite 101
Bellingham

For more information and RSVP
Linda Laws, SBA
linda.laws@sba.gov
206-553-7065

Mark Costello, SBA
206-553-7312

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

NWWBC joins the Mukilteo Business Showcase

Monday, April 12, 2010

You are invited to join the VPanel - Women Entrepreneurs' Toolkit for Success

Wednesday, April 14, 2010: 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT OR
View at your convenience “on demand” after the show

Women start businesses at twice the rate of men, according to an Ernst & Young report. However, according to that same report, women-owned businesses “historically do not reach the size and scale of businesses owned by men.”

Still, a lot is expected from women entrepreneurs, according to a 2010 Forbes story: “female-owned small businesses, now just 16% of total U.S. employment, will be responsible for creating one-third of the 15.3 million new jobs anticipated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics by 2018.”

It’s clear that a lot of women have the entrepreneurial spirit – but why aren’t more succeeding?

Please join Shift Worldwide for a detailed, interactive, virtual panel discussion into how more women can be successful in starting and leading their business – no matter what industry they are in. After this 90-minute vPanel, attendees will come away with ideas and how-to information they can put into action.

Range of Topics:•Specific tips for business development, operations and other areas that can be implemented immediately
•Challenges that business women face, and how to overcome them
•Characteristics typically unique to men and women that assist and hurt them as entrepreneurs
•Funding advantages women have over men, and how to take advantage of them
•Legal aspects of starting or buying a company that women need to understand

Our Distinguished vPanelists:
•Michele DeKinder-Smith, Founder, CEO Jane Out of the Box, Tampa, FL
◦Michele is a seasoned researcher who has specialized in marketing, consumer and business research for more than 20 years. An entrepreneur, she has interviewed thousands of business owners, and understands the needs of large corporations, government agencies and the female entrepreneur.

•Steven Glaser, Shareholder at The Schroeder Group S.C., Waukesha, WI
◦Steven has more than 15 years experience helping businesses solve legal problems, and providing practical business solutions. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies on complicated and cutting edge matters, and has counseled privately-held businesses, start-ups, limited liability companies on joint ventures, business contract negotiations and related topics.

•Kelly Hoey, President, 85 Broads, NYC Chapter, New York, NY
◦An experienced strategist, networker and mentor, Kelly is responsible business advice and organizing workshops for the Chapter of 85 Broads. She is a sought-after speaker, with recent appearances including a Legal Marketing Association, NYS Bar Association Career Development Conference and the Ms JD Third Annual Conference.

•Esther Jeles, Founder/CEO, Aylet Inc., Chicago, IL
◦Esther is a personal coach, workshop leader, professional speaker and author. She has worked with companies such as Oprah Winfrey’s production company HARPO, Twentieth Century Fox, Chevrolet, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and others to transform corporate environments into collaborative, inspirational, honorable businesses that produce exciting bottom line results.

vModerator:
•Jennifer Johnson, Member of Executive Management Team of Shift Worldwide, New York, NY

Who Should Attend:
This will be a wide-ranging vPanel that will be of interest to:
•Any woman who wants to start her own business
•Female CEOs, Presidents, COO and VPs
•All female students in MBA programs
•Business and career coaches, consultants and trainers
•VCs, Angel Investors and any investor who wants to indentify successful traits for women entrepreneurs

Schedule (all times in ET):
•1:45pm – 2:00pm: Log on to vPanel (link is provided once you register)
•2:00pm – 2:05pm: Introduction of vPanelists
•2:05pm – 2:45pm: vPanel Discussion
•2:45pm – 3:00pm: Interactive Q&A Session

OR
•View at your convenience “on demand” after the show

**You do not need a Web cam nor will you be required to download special software to participate in this vPanel.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Congratulations to Ms. Carole Butkus, WBC Director, as Washington State Women-In-Business of the Year

Release Date: April 1, 2010               Media Contact: Carol Andersen (206) 553-7315
Release Number: SDOPR-10-16      Internet Address: www.sba.gov/wa


Carole Ann Butkus
Director, Washington Business Center, Seattle Named Washington State Women-In-Business Champion of the Year
Celebration honoring winners on April 8th, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle Center

SEATTLE – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2010 Women-in-Business Champion boosts the prospects of the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs. “Women entrepreneurs start businesses at twice the national average, so by providing access to counseling, training and financial resources, Carole Butkus tears down barriers commonly faced by this vital group. She knows what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur,” said Calvin Goings Regional Administrator. Carole has worked for early-stage technology companies and a medical practice. She has an MBA from Washington State University. With her husband Pete, she owns two small businesses. She is actively engaged in Belltown Records, an independent record label; and takes an administrative role in the company run primarily by her husband, Butkus Consulting.

Butkus directs the Washington Business Center (WBC) hosted by Community Capital Development (CCD) in Seattle. She and her team are responsible for delivering sensitive and appropriate business assistance and training to clients to support the development of low-income, women-owned and minority business enterprises. To expand outreach, Butkus promotes entrepreneurship at local Chambers of Commerce, business and trade association events, and with government representatives. She lends her insights to suggest solutions to a problem that plagues small businesses and their employees, she recently was appointed to the Washington State Insurance Commissioner's Health Care Reform Realization Committee.

The Washington Business Center is one of three SBA Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) located in Washington State. Women comprise over 60 percent of its client base. Last year, the Center counseled over 400 clients and trained over 3,000 people directly or with the help of resource partners. Through Community Capital Development, WBC clients received loans for over $900,000 with nearly a half million dollars going to woman-owned companies in 2009.

“The WBC has just begun its 12th year of service to women entrepreneurs. Carole proceeds with infectious energy, determination and conviction,” says Nancy Porzio, SBA Seattle District Director. She personally seeks out ways to expand services to businesses in King County, by doing one-on-one counseling in her clients’ offices or in coffee shops. It is commonplace to catch Butkus working long days in order to complete commitments to women's organizations or small business groups. In 2008, Carole implemented a new seven-week training curriculum called "Launch and Grow Your Business.” Since its inception, 163 small business owners - about seventy percent of whom were women - have completed this training. The WBC also offers "Brown Bag" lunch-and-learn seminars free of charge. They are scheduled "ad hoc" when interesting speakers or topics present themselves but occur almost monthly with attendance ranging from 15 to 50 people. Last year the WBC added a computer lab to its toolkit, courtesy of a grant from the Washington State Microenterprise Association.

When the SBA approached the WBC requesting that it partner with the Redmond WorkSource to provide entrepreneurial training to unemployed persons who are looking at starting microenterprises as a form of self employment, Butkus made it happen. WorkSource workshops commenced in 2008 and by January 2009, they had to be moved to a larger classroom and offered twice monthly to meet increased demand.

Butkus has initiated two Business Strategic Growth Teams. The Rainier team consists of all woman-owned businesses and meets in Seattle. The Cascade team consists of over 60% women and meets in a King County eastside suburb. Hand-selected business owners from noncompeting industries operate under non-disclosure agreements due to the sharing of proprietary information at team meetings. The team members serve as an advisory board to each other. Each meeting includes time for training on business-related topics that have included using social media in business; cash flow projections and financial statements; SWOT analysis (business evaluation and matching strengths with opportunities); business valuation; and pricing of products and services.

With commitment and passion, Butkus dedicates her days to advocating on behalf of women in business, going beyond the realm of her professional responsibilities. When it comes to volunteer outreach and marketing efforts, the word “No” is not is her vocabulary. If an organization asks her to speak about women in business, she is there. She will put together a presentation on short notice, working late into the evening or getting up early to make it happen. Butkus maintains open contacts with the Washington State Congressional Delegation and they keep her informed on the pending initiatives affecting women in business. She participates in community outreach activities to ensure that women in business are supported and recognized for their contributions. On a personal level, she works tirelessly to create fair and equal opportunities for women to access counseling, training and capital. This is why she is named 2010 SBA Washington State Women-in-Business Champion.