Sign up for email updates from SBAReceive helpful business tips and upcoming events in your area.


Privacy Policy
Log in to SBA.gov:
Enter your SBA.gov username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.

Community Header Banner

An Economy Built to Last Starts with Small Business
Nico Janssen
Post date: 02/01/2012 - 20:32

Bo Davis was a student at George Washington University when he developed the technology behind Blackboard,  an online course manager now used by millions of college students.  Three SBA-backed loans later, Davis is now expanding another successful business venture, Wasabi sushi restaurants – and he’s still working with SBA to help him create jobs and expand.  When Davis started his company, he didn’t have the deep pockets that competitors had; but SBA was there to help put him on a level playing field with larger competitors.

Today at George Washington University in Washington, DC, SBA Administrator Karen Mills discussed how an economy built to last is rooted in entrepreneurs – and how SBA can help students launch their ideas and succeed in the marketplace.

       

Above: SBA Administrator Karen Mills sits down with the panel at George Washington University. Photo credit: Jessica McConnell Burt / The George Washington University.

The event, one in a series of panels at universities across the country, will showcase the importance of student entrepreneurs and SBA’s resources to help college-affiliated entrepreneurs start and succeed.

Here are some ways SBA is helping student entrepreneurs get started:

  • Providing free business counseling at universities in all 50 states through the Small Business Development Centers network.
  • Improving the start-up to IPO process for fast-growing companies and simplifying accounting regulations with the Startup America Partnership.
  • Helping cutting-edge technologies get to market through research and development grants from the SBIR program.
  • Supporting a loan portfolio of $90 billion dollars – including funding for starting up, buying equipment, expanding hiring, research and development, and much more. 
  • Ensuring that innovate small companies get their share of government contracts.
7 Tips to Preparing a Winning Small Business Week Nomination Package
Nico Janssen
Post date: 10/26/2011 - 14:43

Every year since 1963, SBA has hosted the National Small Business Week Conference to recognize the special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. We are now seeking nominations from the public for the 2012 National Small Business Week awards.  Once you are nominated for an award, the next step is to put together a nomination package. 

Here are 7 tips to preparing a winning Small Business Week nomination package:

 

1.      Read and Follow Nomination Guidelines Carefully– The guidelines are not difficult, but they are specific and precise. Make sure you follow the Nomination Guidelines carefully.

2.      Use the Evaluation/Selection Criteria as an Outline –Each award has a different set of criteria used to rate the nomination. Make sure to explain how the nominee meets each of the criteria under the heading of “concise statement of the qualities and performance that merit the award.”

3.      Put Together a Strong Financial Package – Not all nominations will need financial information. However, if financial statements are required for your nomination category, make sure that you submit three years of financial information. Since statements alone don’t always represent the complete financial picture of the business, briefly explain what the data means.

4.      Always Include Supporting Documentation – The support section is limited to 10 pages, so you’ll want to include the most persuasive information possible. Make sure all photocopies are easy to read. If you submit letters of support, seek them from individuals with first-hand knowledge of your accomplishments, and give specific examples.

5.      Include a Photo - Photos are a required item in the package.  Provide either an 8”x10”or 5”x7” (full color or black and white) photo of the nominee.  Photos may also be submitted on a CD which must be high resolutions pictures (at 300 dpi).

6.      SBA Assistance - Although SBA assistance is not required, if a business has received SBA assistance, explain it in the nomination package. SBA assistance includes things like receiving an SBA loan, participating in a procurement program or obtaining counseling or training from a Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Women's Business Center (WBC), SBA District Office or  SCORE.

7.      Make the Package Look Good– Just as you learned in school, neatness counts! Grammatical errors and typos distract from the quality of the nomination.

Nomination packages will be accepted until Nov. 10, 2011, by your local SBA District Office.   If you have questions about the nomination package, contact your local SBA District Office.

And don’t forget to save the date for National Small Business Week 2012 – May 20-26 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC!

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2012: Open Call for Nominations
Nico Janssen
Post date: 10/18/2011 - 10:54

Nominate an Outstanding Small Business in Your Neighborhood for SBA’s Highest Awards

Every year, we at the SBA honor America’s small business owners by presenting National Small Business Week in Washington, DC. During National Small Business Week, we recognize outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners and the contributions they’re making to create jobs, inspire innovation and strengthen our economy.  Earlier this year, we hosted one of our most successful Small Business Weeks.  Click here to see this year’s winners.

Now, we’re gearing up for next year’s National Small Business Week: May 20-26, 2012 in Washington, DC.  Click here for all the details.

Open call for Nominations

SBA is currently seeking nominations from the public for exceptional entrepreneurs in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to help in awarding a national winner and a winner for each state and territory.

In addition, we’re also seeking nominations for the following categories:

·          Champion Awards for individuals or organizations dedicated to supporting small businesses in a variety of categories.

·         Phoenix Awards for individuals (business owners, volunteers and public officials) whose efforts and contributions have enabled their businesses or communities to recover successfully from a disaster.

To nominate a small business owner in your community, check out our Nomination Guidelines. Submissions will be accepted until November 10, 2011. If you have questions about the nomination process, contact your local SBA District Office.

Additional Information

National Small Business Week Official Website

SBA’s Nomination Guidelines

National Small Business Week 2011 Highlight Video

The Videos Are In – Tell Us Your Favorite Small Business Exporting Story
Nico Janssen
Post date: 10/14/2011 - 15:32

The Voting Period for SBA’s Export Video Contest is NOW OPEN

In August, we announced the Export Video Contest, asking small businesses to submit their exporting stories through YouTube videos for a chance to win cash prizes and a monetary award towards a future export event. The contest, presented in partnership with Visa and the President’s National Export Initiative, recognizes successful small exporters and helps get the word out about federal tools available to help U.S. exporters expand into new markets, grow their companies and spur job creation.

You responded. We received entries from companies doing business in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, representing diverse industries from personal care products to healthcare innovations and residential water solutions.

The videos are in, and a panel of judges has selected the finalists in each of five categories. Now it’s your turn to vote for the best video!

Voting Instructions

There are two different ways to vote:

1.)    You can "Like" your favorite finalist video on the SBA Facebook page under the "VIDEOS" tab: 

2.)    You can "Like" (thumbs-up) your favorite finalist video on YouTube. Here are links to the videos on YouTube:

 

Agribusiness category

Building Beyond Our Borders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLbFRRHnUzg

 

Consumer Products category

Grow Your Business One Country At A Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sIRpVXepuA

 

Manufacturing category

Exporting: Success Beyond Borders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4_s6fo1hYM

 

Professional Services category: 

From Small to International Business

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CngHp1qerQ0

 

Technology category

Exported from Detroit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO7uVnRsVaw

 

You can vote for as many of the videos as you wish on both YouTube and Facebook. Voting closes at 12 Noon (Eastern) on October 28, 2011. Only votes cast through one of the official voting methods will count. "Likes" on videos posted on non-SBA YouTube channels, personal Facebook profiles, or any other website will NOT count toward the final tally. Please see our full Contest Rules for complete contest policies.

 

Additional Resources for small business exporting

-SBA Guide to Exporting and Importing

-SBA’s Export Business Planner Tool

-State Trade and Export Promotion Program

-SBA’s Office of International Trade

-National Export Initiative Home Page

-Export.gov

Co-sponsorship Authorization #11-7080-11SBA

SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and service are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

LIVE FROM MED WEEK: A Chat with Thomas Costa of Coastal Group
Nico Janssen
Post date: 09/29/2011 - 15:13

It’s Nico with SBA’s Office of Communications and Public Liaison. This week I’m live blogging from the 29th Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference in Washington, DC.

After catching a panel on international markets (Access to Markets: Doing Business in Latin America), I spoke to Thomas Costa of Coastal Group, a HUB Zone-certified small business based in New York State.

                                                             Thomas Costa of Coastal Group

                                                                Above: Thomas Costa of Coastal

What does your business do?

We do design-build contracting work for a number of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Parks Service, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There is a strong construction element.

Has the SBA Helped You?

Being a certified 8(a) and a HUB zone company has allowed us to be very successful in bidding for and winning contracts. We’ve done very well even during the recession. Our company’s grown 40% in the last year to about 130 employees, and we have offices across the country.

What are you looking forward to at this year’s MED Week?

Learning about international business opportunities. We don’t do any international work now but that’s something I’m interested in learning more about. The panel on Latin American business opportunities was great.

Sponsored by the SBA and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), MED week gives minority business owners from across the country an opportunity to learn about growing their business, accessing capital and new markets, hearing from top Administration officials, and networking with other business owners.