Overhauled SBA Website to Go Live in the Fall

The new SBA.gov will make it easier for small businesses, lending institutions, small business counselors and other members of the small business community to more quickly find the information they need through a simplified navigation structure. In addition, new features will allow users to tailor their experience to provide information that is specific to their needs and location.

The new website also will offer a dedicated lender area that helps banks and other financial institutions that partner with the SBA.

The website redesign is part of the SBA’s goal to create a dynamic online presence that delivers information to customers wherever they are online. To achieve this goal, the agency recently began using social media to reach constituents through a variety of online channels such as Facebook and Twitter. The agency also recently launched an improved search function on the current SBA.gov website which vastly improves the speed at which users can find the information they are looking for in advance of the launch of the new site this fall.

For more information on the SBA’s online expansion, please visit www.sba.gov/next.
Release Date: July 29, 2010 Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059
Release Number: 10-41

DOE Releases funds for SBIT/STTR.

Washington, DC -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday 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 three years to research, develop, and deploy new technologies.

Applications are currently being accepted for the following technology areas of interest:

Biomass Technologies
1.Harvesting/Dewatering Technology for Algal Biofuels Production.

Buildings Technologies
1. Transitional Technology for Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)
2. SSL Products made from Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)
3. “Core” Technology for Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)

Fuel Cell Technologies
1. Advanced Materials for Fuel Cell Technologies
2. Bio-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Geothermal Technologies, High Temperature Tools and Sensors
1. High Temperature Downhole Tools
2. High-Temperature-High-Volume Lifting
3. High Temperature Downhole MWD Tools for Directional Drilling

Industrial Technologies
1. Sensors and Controls
2. Industrial Membrane Process Systems
3. Advanced Materials
4. Integrated Reaction-Separation using non-thermal processes
5. Mitigation of Heat Losses, Fouling, and Scaling in key Manufacturing Unit Operations.

Solar Technologies - Lowering the Cost of Photovoltaics through Innovative Augmentation
1. Lightweight, Flexible and Low Cost Multi-junction Solar Cells
2. Static Module PV Concentrators
3. New Methods of Crystallizing Silicon

Vehicle Technologies
1. Technologies to Address Internal Heating in DC Bus Capacitors
2. Improved Magnetic Materials for Motors
3. Advanced Materials for Lightweight Vehicles

Wind Technologies
1. Advanced Wind Power Technologies and Systems

Fossil Energy
1. Pollution control
2. Advanced power systems
3. Stationary power fuel cells
4. Clean fuels
5. Carbon sequestration
6. Recovery of oil, natural gas, and methane hydrates
7. Advances in materials, sensors, monitors, controls, biotechnology, and computational processes

Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
1. Smart Grid Technologies and Systems
2. Electric Transmission Technologies
3. Superconducting Technology for Power Equipment
4. Advanced Materials for Power Electronics and Energy Storage

Nuclear Energy
1. Advanced Instrumentation and Control, Radiation Resistant Sensors, and Wireless On-Line Monitoring Systems for Nuclear Power Plant Applications

The deadline for submission of applications is August 4, 2010, at 8pm EST.

Information regarding applications is available in the funding notice section at: http://www.er.doe.gov/sbir/.

For more information about the DOE FY 2010 Phase III Xlerator Program please visit http://www1.eere.energy.gov.
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SBA Offers Free Webinar and Web Chat to Encourage Disaster Preparedness Planning for Business Owners
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WASHINGTON –No matter what time of year it is, or where you run your business, it’s a good idea to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Recent disasters, such as the record-breaking flooding which occurred in Tennessee in April, serve as reminders to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly.

Toward this end, the U.S. Small Business Administration will offer two online disaster preparedness events next week. On Tuesday, June 22, Agility Recovery Solutions CEO Bob Boyd will discuss 10 Steps to Business Preparedness. Boyd will highlight key aspects of business continuity planning, including risk assessment, data back-up, crisis communications and insurance coverage.

On Thursday, June 24, SBA’s monthly Web Chat will be hosted by Nashville business owner Genma Holmes, CEO of Holmes Pest Control. Holmes will share her experience of how another business owner’s losses after Hurricane Katrina inspired her to develop her own preparedness plan. Because she was ready for the disaster, Holmes was able to resume operations just one day after cleaning up after a recent flood in Nashville.


TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2010

WHO: Bob Boyd, CEO, Agility Recovery Solutions

WHAT: During the Tuesday Webinar, Agility CEO Bob Boyd will present 10 Tips to Business Preparedness, which will be followed by a question and answer session.

WHEN: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT

HOW: Register in Advance for 10 Tips to Business Preparedness by visiting Agility’s “Prepare My Business” Web site at www.preparemybusiness.org/education.


THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010

WHO: Genma Holmes, CEO, Holmes Pest Control

WHAT: Small business owner Genma Holmes will host the Thursday Web chat on “Disaster Preparedness for Business Owners: An Inside View,” and give her own account of how disaster preparedness planning helped keep her business running after Nashville’s recent record-breaking floods. Holmes will take questions and offer advice on disaster preparedness. Those participating in the Thursday Web chat may submit questions before or during the chat discussion.

WHEN: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT

HOW: Join the chat live by visiting www.sba.gov, and clicking “Online Business Chat.” Web chat participants may post questions prior to the chat by visiting: http://web.sba.gov/livemeeting/Jun10 .

To review archives of past Web chats, visit http://www.sba.gov/tools/monthlywebchat/index.html

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Advisory Date: June 17, 2010 Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059
Advisory Number: MA10-10 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

AG SECRETARY VILSACK AND SMALL BIZ ADMIN MILLS ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO STIMULATE RURAL BUSINESS CREATION AND EXPANSION

Partnership Will Increase Access to Capital in Rural Communities; Spur Business Growth, Job Creation


HILLSBORO, Mo., June 3, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Small Business (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills today 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

Key goals of this partnership include strengthening marketing and outreach by enabling each Agency's field offices to advise potential small business borrowers of the other Agency's credit programs that may support all or a portion of the small business' financing needs. USDA Rural Development and SBA field offices will exchange promotional and reference materials, including brochures and training schedules, and will distribute the other Agency's information to its field network and its potential applicants when appropriate.

USDA and SBA will also encourage their networks of resource partners to refer rural businesses to the other Agency's resources, where appropriate. Rural Development's network includes National and State Rural Partnership Councils, State and sub-State Offices, and Appropriate Technology Transfer to Rural Areas. SBA's network includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE Chapters, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, Veteran Business Outreach Centers and Women's Business Centers. By mutual agreement, USDA and SBA may identify pairings of State and district offices to explore mutual best practices available to serve clients.

The Small Business Administration works to assist and protect the interests of small business. SBA guarantees loans and provides business development assistance to small businesses. It administers its programs through district offices throughout the United States and provides additional services through its network of resource partners: the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SCORE, U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEAC), Women's Business Centers (WBC), and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of 6,100 employees located in the nation's capital and in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $134 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

Release No. 0300.10, Contact: USDA, Weldon Freeman, (202) 690-1384 SBA, Hayley Matz (202) 205-6948
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US SBA Awards 2 MN Lenders during Small Business Week

The U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. gave awards to nine lenders and two investment companies on May 24, 2010 for their commitment to delivering vital financial assistance to American small businesses, as part of National Small Business Week.

Two firms from Minnesota were recognized;

A new award was created this year to honor a Community/Rural Lender that has made a positive impact on its community. The winner of the Community/Rural Lender of the Year was American Bank of the North, of Nashwauk, Minnesota.

In keeping with the heightened importance exports are receiving in the nation’s economic recovery, SBA this year again recognized two banks for their role in lending to small business exporters, and one of those banks was Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., of Minneapolis, Minnesota who won the award for making the largest number of domestic loans to exporters.

FROM:
Release Date: May 24, 2010 Contact: David J. Hall (202) 205-6697
Release Number: 10-27 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

2009 MnSBDC Annual Report is an AWARD WINNER!

On May 20, 2010, Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Communications Office was recognized with four awards by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC) during its Northern Lights competition. (DEED hosts the MnSBDC program)

The Northern Lights competition provides awards of merit or excellence in numerous categories related to communications. Submissions are reviewed and scored by peers in the government communications community in Minnesota.

One of the four awards received by the Communications Office was;

Award of Merit – Annual Reports – Lasting Positive Impact (SBDC 2009 Annual Report)

Big Thanks to the DEED Communication's Office for producing a fantastic report that captures the achievements of the MnSBDC Program.

Here's the link to the 2009 MnSBDC Annual Report!

Minnesota SBA Honors Financial Services Champion - Jenny Dougherty

INTERNATIONAL FALLS – Jenny M. Dougherty, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Professional Business Consultant for Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) in International Falls, has been named Minnesota Financial Services Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Financial Services Champion award is presented annually in each state to individuals who assist small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services. Elaine S. Hansen, Director of the University of Minnesota (Duluth) Center for Economic Development and the Northeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center, nominated Dougherty for this award.

Dougherty has served Koochiching County as a Professional Business Consultant for the SBDC since 2007 in a part-time capacity. Her job responsibilities include business planning, financial analysis as well as cash flow and profitability analysis, assistance with access to capital, loan packaging and market research. Dougherty also is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor and teaches QuickBooks and other business workshops in her community. Recently, because of her efforts and the need for her services, Dougherty’s position was changed to a full-time position.

Dougherty is a 1986 graduate of St. Cloud State University, with a Bachelors of Science, majoring in Finance. She earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 2002. Spending her career in the financial industry, Dougherty worked for banks and mortgage companies in the Twin cities area before moving to International Falls, Minnesota. Throughout her twenty-four years in the financial industry, her experiences in mortgage loan origination and processing, underwriting, customer service, bookkeeping and much more, gave Dougherty the expertise she uses now to assist small businesses in Koochiching and Northern St. Louis County.

Dougherty also teaches workshops in starting a business, QuickBooks and other business-related topics at Rainy River Community College. She has developed strong relationships with local banks within the county, joined several local committees and organizations in support for the business community.

She has helped create a Women’s Business network in International Falls, serves on several boards including the International Falls Visitors and Convention Board (2005 – Present), and has been a Girl Scout Leader, President of Scandia Preschool, and serves on the First Lutheran Church Budge Committee (2007 – Present).

Dougherty and her husband, Dan Herman, have six daughters and reside on Rainy Lake in International Falls. Her husband has been a small business owner for over thirty years and her parents and siblings are all owners of small businesses. This experience and family perspective provides a first-hand understanding of the challenges that small business owners face.


For more information:

Jenny M. Dougherty
SBDC Professional Business Consultant
Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA)
PO Box 138
405 3rd Street
International Falls, MN 56649
218-283-8585
jenny.keda@northwinds.net

Release Date: March 29, 2010 Contact: Sherree Stratton (612) 370-2325
Release Number: 2010-04 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/mn