Historically women and minority business owners have been underrepresented in the business world, but there are many resources that try to help change that. For the month of August, Business.gov asked its Community members “What government resources have you found in your community or on the web that help women or minorit...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
State and local government contracting
Getting Started in State and Local Government Contracting – A Small Business 101
By Caron_Beesley - September 2, 2010
State and local government contract opportunities are abundant and, since most states “set-aside” a certain amount of contracts to small business each year, the opportunities can often be a good fit for small business. Here are seven tips for getting started in the state and local government marketplace. Read more...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program stimulates technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.
The SBIR program solicits proposals from the small business sector consistent with NSF's mission. The program is governed by Public Law 106-554. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization. The NSF SBIR program is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of NSF and the purpose of the SBIR legislation by transforming scientific discovery into both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization. Accordingly, NSF has formulated a broad solicitation topics for SBIR that conform to the high-technology investment sector's interests.
The four broad topics are:
- Biotechnology and Chemical Technologies (BC)
- Education Applications (EA)
- Information and Communication Technologies (IC)
- Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Dahlkemper Introduces New Plan to Help Small Business Increase Exports, Expand into New Markets
[From Rep. Dahlkemper's website] Friday, 23 July 2010
Washington—Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) has introduced new legislation to help small businesses expand through exports. The Small Business Export Enhancement Act of 2010 will help small businesses gain access to new markets and increase their exports by strengthening and improving Export Assistance Centers.
Export Assistance Centers, operated jointly by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, provide small- and medium- sized businesses with direct, personalized support with exporting. Rep. Dahlkemper’s bill will ensure that the Centers are fully staffed with export finance specialists and expand the number of specialists available to small businesses within two years. The legislation also directs the SBA to analyze the gaps in coverage by the export finance specialists to ensure that all areas are being served by the Export Assistance Centers.
“Exporting has allowed our business to grow by a significant margin,” said Michael L. Noble, President of HERO BX in Erie. “Helping small- and medium- sized businesses break into exporting accelerates growth and gives businesses access to an entirely new consumer and client base. Rep. Dahlkemper’s plan will surely help businesses in Western Pennsylvania.” Hero BX was recently awarded the U.S. Commercial Service’s Export Achievement Award.
Currently, less than one percent of our nation’s nearly 29 million small businesses export their goods and services; yet, that one percent accounts for about 31.3% of our nations export volume, totaling more than $311 billion in FY2009. According to a study by Comptia, the Computing Technology Industry Association, 86% of small businesses that are exporting reported their export sales are growing faster than their domestic sales.
In FY 2009, the SBA provided over 1,500 loans totaling over $600 million to exporters. On average, over the last five fiscal years, every dollar invested in SBA Export Assistance programs has resulted in $382 in export sales.
Services offered through Export Assistance Centers include three SBA trade and export loan programs targeted towards small business:
* International Trade Loan Program (ITL): The ITL program offers term loans to small businesses that plan to start or continue exporting, as well as to small businesses that have been adversely affected by competition from imports.
* Export Working Capital Program: SBA’s Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) loans are targeted to small businesses that are able to generate export sales and need additional working capital to support their sales.
* Export Express Loan Program: SBA Export Express helps small businesses develop or expand their export markets. The program provides exporters and lenders a streamlined method to obtain SBA-backed financing for loans and lines of credit up to $250,000.
Washington—Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) has introduced new legislation to help small businesses expand through exports. The Small Business Export Enhancement Act of 2010 will help small businesses gain access to new markets and increase their exports by strengthening and improving Export Assistance Centers.
Export Assistance Centers, operated jointly by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, provide small- and medium- sized businesses with direct, personalized support with exporting. Rep. Dahlkemper’s bill will ensure that the Centers are fully staffed with export finance specialists and expand the number of specialists available to small businesses within two years. The legislation also directs the SBA to analyze the gaps in coverage by the export finance specialists to ensure that all areas are being served by the Export Assistance Centers.
“Exporting has allowed our business to grow by a significant margin,” said Michael L. Noble, President of HERO BX in Erie. “Helping small- and medium- sized businesses break into exporting accelerates growth and gives businesses access to an entirely new consumer and client base. Rep. Dahlkemper’s plan will surely help businesses in Western Pennsylvania.” Hero BX was recently awarded the U.S. Commercial Service’s Export Achievement Award.
Currently, less than one percent of our nation’s nearly 29 million small businesses export their goods and services; yet, that one percent accounts for about 31.3% of our nations export volume, totaling more than $311 billion in FY2009. According to a study by Comptia, the Computing Technology Industry Association, 86% of small businesses that are exporting reported their export sales are growing faster than their domestic sales.
In FY 2009, the SBA provided over 1,500 loans totaling over $600 million to exporters. On average, over the last five fiscal years, every dollar invested in SBA Export Assistance programs has resulted in $382 in export sales.
Services offered through Export Assistance Centers include three SBA trade and export loan programs targeted towards small business:
* International Trade Loan Program (ITL): The ITL program offers term loans to small businesses that plan to start or continue exporting, as well as to small businesses that have been adversely affected by competition from imports.
* Export Working Capital Program: SBA’s Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) loans are targeted to small businesses that are able to generate export sales and need additional working capital to support their sales.
* Export Express Loan Program: SBA Export Express helps small businesses develop or expand their export markets. The program provides exporters and lenders a streamlined method to obtain SBA-backed financing for loans and lines of credit up to $250,000.
Friday, July 16, 2010
DOE Announces $30 Million in New Small Business Funding to Help Commercialize Clean Energy Technologies
Washington, DC- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $30 million in funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations will be made available to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new technologies. Today's funding announcement builds on the Department's existing efforts under the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) to develop near-term clean energy technologies and support American small businesses that will play an important role in building the clean energy economy of the future. This is the first time DOE has offered Phase III awards under these small business programs.
Small companies previously awarded Phase II grants through DOE's Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) or the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) are eligible. Projects that include developed technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and impact on U.S. manufacturing and job creation are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants may receive up to $3 million over 3 years to research, develop and deploy new technologies.
Applications are currently being accepted for the following technology areas of interest:
Biomass Technologies; Buildings Technologies; Fuel Cell Technologies; Geothermal Technologies - High Temperature Tools and Sensors; Industrial Technologies; Solar Technologies - Lowering the Cost of Photovoltaics through Innovative Augmentation;
Vehicle Technologies; Wind Technologies; Fossil Energy; Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability; and Nuclear Energy.
The deadline for submission of applications is August 4, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. EST.
For more information about the DOE FY 2010 Phase III Xlerator Program please visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Small companies previously awarded Phase II grants through DOE's Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) or the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) are eligible. Projects that include developed technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and impact on U.S. manufacturing and job creation are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants may receive up to $3 million over 3 years to research, develop and deploy new technologies.
Applications are currently being accepted for the following technology areas of interest:
Biomass Technologies; Buildings Technologies; Fuel Cell Technologies; Geothermal Technologies - High Temperature Tools and Sensors; Industrial Technologies; Solar Technologies - Lowering the Cost of Photovoltaics through Innovative Augmentation;
Vehicle Technologies; Wind Technologies; Fossil Energy; Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability; and Nuclear Energy.
The deadline for submission of applications is August 4, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. EST.
For more information about the DOE FY 2010 Phase III Xlerator Program please visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Monday, June 14, 2010
EDA i6 Challenge
The i6 Challenge is a new $12 million innovation competition administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). EDA will award up to $1 million to each of six winning teams with the most innovative ideas to drive technology commercialization and entrepreneurship in their regions. NIH and NSF will award a total of up to $6 million in supplemental funding to their SBIR grantees that are associated or partnered with the winning teams. We encourage entrepreneurs, investors, universities, foundations, and non-profits to participate in the i6 Challenge. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2010. For more information, email i6@doc.gov, check out our Frequently Asked Questions, and join the upcoming i6 Challenge conference call in June.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
New rural small businesses program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Small Business (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills have announced that the two agencies have signed an agreement to encourage sustainable growth and development of rural small businesses. The announcement was made during the National Summit of Rural America, which gathered agricultural leaders, farmers, ranchers, community leaders, and residents of rural communities to share their vision and ideas that can help rebuild and revitalize rural America.
The agreement between the SBA and USDA is designed to reach out to people and places in rural areas and small communities with underserved financial needs. Prospective small businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans also are expected to benefit from this joint effort to encourage sustainable growth and development. USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Service will provide loan guarantees, loans and grants; the Small Business Administration will provide loan guarantees.
The MOU will remain in effect for three years. Under the agreement, USDA Rural Development and SBA will use their respective resources to provide small businesses in rural areas with loan guarantees and technical assistance to help build diverse and sustainable economies, reverse population decline, create and sustain jobs, and improve quality of life. The agreement is expected to:
- Improve opportunities for small businesses to start and grow;
- Improve coordination in the delivery and development of programs; and
- Increase the number of small business loans guaranteed by USDA and SBA.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the RCWE’s mission is to connect people with jobs through collaborative workforce development efforts and strong partnerships with economic development, business, education, and government sectors in the Northwest Pennsylvania region.