Small Business

FEMA: Progess. Partnerships. Preparedness. Six Months after Hurricane Harvey

Six months since Hurricane Harvey battered the Lone Star State, Texans in coastal towns, urban areas, and rural counties continue to move forward with their unprecedented recovery. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners are already repairing or rebuilding their hurricane damaged houses or have found new rental apartments or homes. Their recovery activity was fueled by…

FEMA: One Month Recovery Update for Southern California

It’s been one month since FEMA’s Individual Assistance program was approved for Southern Californians in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Here’s an update on recovery numbers as of close of business Feb. 14: 582 households eligible for FEMA individual assistance. FEMA has approved more than $3.4 million in individuals and households…

SBA: Emerging Leaders Initiative to Help Growing Entrepreneurs Opens for Recruitment

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the launch of the 2018 Emerging Leaders initiative for executives of small businesses poised for growth in emerging markets.  Local area recruitment for the 2018 training cycle is currently ongoing at designated SBA District Offices.  Classes are scheduled to begin this spring with specific dates differing by location.  Interested…

SBA: Proposed Rule Issued to Move Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Program to SBA

Department of Veterans Affairs issues proposed rule to move to the Small Business Administration regulations relating to business ownership and control for the purposes of its Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Program and to clarify other terms and references used in this program. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its regulations governing…

HUD: $1.5 Billion Awarded to Help Puerto Rico Recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Disaster recovery funds to help repair damaged housing and businesses WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $1.5 billion to help Puerto Rico to recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. HUD’s Deputy Secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude announced the disaster recovery grants with Governor Ricardo Rosselló during her…

SBA: U.S. Census Bureau to Conduct New Business Survey, Combine and Replace Previous Surveys

The U.S. Census Bureau plans to conduct a new business survey, the Annual Business Survey, which will combine and replace previous Census surveys: the five-year Survey of Business Owners, the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs, and the Business R & D and Innovation for Microbusinesses survey.  The Census Bureau expects the proposed changes will streamline costs,…

SBA: Free Webinar Series to Help Small Businesses Navigate the HUBZone Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration will present a six-part, free webinar series to help small businesses navigate its Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone Program that will run from February to mid-March. The hour-long webinars will cover the following topics: Feb. 7 HUBZone Contracting:  Make the Federal Government Your Customer             2-3p.m. EST Small businesses will…

SBA: New Report Helps Explain Differences in Latino Business Ownership and Income

A new report prepared for the Office of Advocacy by Professor Robert Fairlie, “Latino Business Ownership: Contributions and Barriers for U.S. Born and Immigrant Latino Entrepreneurs,” evaluates the differences in Latino self-employment rates and business income, comparing immigrant and U.S.-born Latino men and women with non-minorities. Roughly 600,000 business owners are U.S.-born Latinos, with an…