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Lawmakers Press SBA for Energy Initiatives for Small Business Owners

Record energy prices are among the top concerns for small business owners across the nation. Today two lawmakers pressed the Small Business Administration to implement several energy initiatives to help entrepreneurs. Senators John F. Kerry (D-Mass) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) are urging the SBA to step up efforts to implement programs passed as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. “Small businesses are hurting and the SBA can help alleviate the strain of the current energy crisis,” said Kerry. “Small businesses account for more than half of our fuel consumption, and we should give them the tools to become more energy efficient, whether its loans to purchase renewable energy systems or effective telecommuting programs. Every drop of oil or kilowatt of electricity saved is more money in a company’s bottom line.” “With over three quarters of small business owners reporting an inability to cope with exorbitant energy prices, it is vital that the SBA swiftly implement the provisions that Chairman Kerry and I included in last year’s Energy Independence and Security Act,” said Senator Snowe. “The SBA has the opportunity and the responsibility to play a leading role in combating climate change and curbing skyrocketing energy prices. I hope that the SBA will fully implement the critical provisions to make loans for energy efficiency improvements, promote small business energy audits, and establish a priority for energy efficiency projects under the Small Business Innovation Research program. With energy prices where they are today, the SBA cannot afford to drag its feet and stand by while the American economy suffers.” In a July 31st letter, Senators Kerry and Snowe, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, called on Acting SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to implement a number of initiatives passed as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which became public law 110-140 in December of 2007. Specifically the bill calls for the SBA to develop and implement programs to do the following: ● Establish an Energy Clearinghouse program that works with the EPA’s Energy Star program to help educate small businesses on energy efficiency; ● Create a small business energy efficiency pilot grant program that would offer grants to Small Businesses Development Centers to conduct energy audits of small businesses and help them reduce their energy consumption; ● Encourage innovation in the field of energy efficiency by requiring Federal Agencies to give priority to SBIR/STTR program solicitations by small businesses that participate in or conduct energy efficiency or renewable energy system research and development; ● Allows loans to be made through the SBA’s Express Loan program for the purpose of purchasing a renewable energy system or financing of energy efficiency projects; ● Establish a renewable fuel Capital Investment Company program designed to promote the research, development, production, and marketing of renewable energy resources; ● Initiate the small business telecommuting pilot program authorized in the Energy Bill to provide information regarding telecommuting options to small business owners and their employees. ...

Posted Jul 31 2008, 02:17 PM by Danita Blackwood with | with 7 comment(s)

Filed under: entrepreneurs, veteran entrepreneur, sbtv.com, energy smart improvements, Business Center, Congress helps small business, www.sbtv.com, business conditions, energy, a trip to Washington, entrepreneurial activity, US small business owners, Washington, SBA., Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Senators John F. Kerry (D-Mass) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine)

The Effort to Help Military Vets Become Business Owners

Veterans who want to run their own small business are getting attention in the nation’s capital. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment yesterday to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to provide an additional $600,000 in funding for veterans business resource centers in Saint Louis, Boston, and Flint, Michigan, which are very close to closing due to funding shortfalls. Missouri Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) offered the amendment which received support from Senators John Kerry (D-MA) Olympia Snowe, (R-Maine), Carl Levin (D-Mich.) Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) who all wrote letters expressing their strong support for funding for veterans business resource centers. Patrick Heavey, Executive Director of the St. Louis Veterans Business Resource Center has evidence of the importance of the centers in the community and the track record of the Missouri center: “We do know for sure, is that in fiscal years 2006 and 2007, we created 161 new businesses. And those businesses employ an average of three people each.” A recent report by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that the percentage of military veterans in the labor forced jumped to 23 percent in 2005, a sharp increase from 10 percent in 2000. According to the report, 18 percent of veterans who left the military within the past one to three years were unemployed and a quarter earned less than $22,000. ...

Posted May 16 2008, 01:09 PM by Danita Blackwood with | with no comments

Filed under: small business, veteran entrepreneur, starting a busienss, free entrepreneurship education, Senator Olympia Snowe, senator john kerry, Vietnam veteran, Patrick Heavey, Business Center, successful green small businesses, www.sbtv.com, BUSINESS, small businesss employees, Senator Daniel Akaka, St. Louis Veterans Business Resource Center, Senator Kit Bond

Win a $100,000 Small Business Makeover

A slowing economy, lending crisis, and rising prices, have been unnerving. But there is some good news about the U-S economy: small business! The entrepreneurial spirit of America is robust and strong with small business representing more than 99% of all employers according to latest federal research. So it is no surprise, small firms are creating the bulk of the new jobs in this country. In fact, small business produces roughly half of the private Gross Domestic Product and created more jobs last year than medium and large-sized businesses combined! If American small businesses were a separate economy, it would be the world's third-largest, trailing only the U.S. as a whole and Japan! Small business creates 80 percent of all new jobs in America and that it is why these small businesses are a bright spot in the U-S economy. Small business has generated sixty to eighty percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade. A national observance is coming up in a few days to celebrate small firms and bringing a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. It is National Small Business Week. These entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and work hard--- have a chance to win a $100,000 makeover complements of SBTV.com, Sam’s Club and The National Federation of Independent Business during Small Business Week, April 21-25. The makeover includes up to $25,000 in cash, merchandise and supplies from Sam’s Club, mentoring from SBTV.com experts, and a lifetime membership to NFIB, as well as a trip to Washington DC for NFIB’s Small Business Summit June 8-11th. No purchase in necessary to enter or win the contest, for details visit www.sbtv.com and click on the $100,000 small business makeover logo. ...

Posted Apr 09 2008, 12:22 AM by Danita Blackwood with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: sbtv.com, $100, great opportunity for entrepreneurs, Business Center, Win $100, Sam's Club, NFIB, 000 small business makeover, save money National Small Business Week, elebrate small firms