WASHINGTON: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the 200,000^th graduate of the Boots to Business (B2B) program. This milestone re-emphasizes the long-standing importance of military-connected entrepreneurs to the nation’s economy and celebrates 11 years of B2B instructor achievements nationwide and overseas.

“SBA’s Boots to Business program is about strengthening our aspiring military entrepreneurs, especially now as they are contributing to the record rate of new business applications we’re experiencing under President Biden’s leadership,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman. “The Boots to Business program is set up to provide transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with an introduction to business fundamentals to help them successfully make the jump from service to startup with the full resources of the SBA. We are proud to celebrate our 200,000^th graduate and continue our leadership in connecting our military entrepreneurs with valuable resources so they can pursue their business ownership dreams after serving our country.”

B2B is part of the entrepreneurial track of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Boots to Business Reboot (B2BR) offers the same curriculum as B2B to veterans of any era, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses without access to a military installation. The 200,000 graduate count grows weekly and includes participants in B2B, B2BR, DOD’s TAP Online Learning Management System, and SBA’s Military Spouse Pathway to Business, an entrepreneurship course for military spouses that launched in July 2023.

The 200,000th trainee took the B2B course at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas on January 16, 2024. The severe winter weather in the area caused the entire post to run on a two-hour delay. However, the course instructor said the strong qualities of the military community shined through. “Despite the inclement weather and tricky driving conditions, veterans and military spouses showed their adaptability and resilience and arrived for class anyway,” said Mitchell Fitzpatrick, B2B instructor, and Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) director. “These skills, cultivated over their years of service, are the same ones that will give them a leg up on the competition as business owners.”

It’s common for many B2B participants to navigate their entire life’s puzzle while they take the course. They may be focused on moving arrangements, housing, children’s schooling decisions, or steady income. “Many may not circle back to entrepreneurship for months, or even years, after the course conclusion,” said Fitzpatrick. “That’s why I continuously remind them that the VBOC and SBA resource partner network are always here for them. Whether they want to start or grow a business, there are so many resources out there to assist in that journey. My main message to students is this: you’re not alone and you should never hesitate to reach out. If you’re on the fence about business ownership as a post-military route, taking B2B is a great opportunity to walk out of the course with new tools in your post-military service toolbox and mentors you can reach out to at any time.”

In addition to the B2B milestone, SBA’s Boots to Business Revenue Readiness (B2B RR), hosted by Mississippi State University, graduated its 3,000th trainee in November 2023. B2B RR is a six-week course in developing a business plan. Through interactive virtual classroom discussions, participants refine business models into business plans. Since the program’s start seven years ago, veteran, service member, and military spouse graduates have used the course material and feedback from instructors to move on to the next phase of their business ownership journey.

Shannon Arick of West Point, a graduate of the B2B training said, “One thing I learned in the military is that the possible success or failure of a mission may come down to good, solid training. It is the same in business. Boots to Business Revenue Readiness gave me a firm understanding of the steps that lead to having and, more importantly, maintaining a successful business.”

Over 1,200 B2B and B2B Reboot classes were offered in person and virtually in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. In addition, the B2B curriculum was updated in FY 2023 to include updated modules, new exercises, and more. B2B, B2BR, and Pathway to Business courses are offered through SBA district offices, resource partners, and grant partners. To see the current B2B course schedule, visit sba.my.site.com.

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WASHINGTON:  Business leaders across the country are joining the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in voicing support for the agency’s slate of major improvements to the agency’s popular 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program. These changes – launched under a new name, Empower to Grow (E2G) – include significant upgrades to the program’s core services and are designed to deliver on the SBA’s commitment under the Biden-Harris Administration to advance equity in federal procurement.

In Fiscal Year 2023, small businesses participating in the 7(j) program, submitted 3,700 bids for federal contracts, and 2,200 of those bids were awarded contracts — a win rate of 60%. More than 6,000 small businesses participated in the program and, on average, firms that received training self-reported that their percentage growth in annual revenue had increased by 45%. This adds to the SBA’s release of FY21 and FY22 federal contracting data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, which shows that small businesses in every demographic category analyzed are seeing an increase in federal contracting dollars under the Biden-Harris Administration.   

“Small business growth unlocks paths to prosperity and generational wealth building in America, which is why the Biden-Harris Administration continues to prioritize equity and leveling the playing field so small business owners from historically underrepresented groups can successfully compete for over $700 billion in small business-eligible federal contracts,” said Administrator Guzman. “We’ve revitalized the 7(j) training program to launch an improved ‘Empower to Grow’ acceleration program with tools to help ready more businesses and build a diversified supplier base, which will also increase competition, innovation, and performance in the federal marketplace. We know there is more work to be done to reverse the disparities in federal procurement for America’s minority-owned businesses, and the SBA’s Empower to Grow training program will be a critical resource supporting that work.”

Upgrades to the Empower to Grow program will include:

• Enhancement of customized 1:1 training tailored to develop the critical skillset needed to win government contracts.
• Launch of the enhanced Federal Market Acceleration Program (FedMAP), a three-month training program in government contracting led by government business development experts.
• Launch of a federal contractor master class providing new tools and techniques to accelerate small businesses competing for contracts including Sources Sought and Request for Information requirements.
• Integration of networking and matchmaking events with government agencies and prime contractors.
• Bidding technology for 8(a) firms to receive, review, and respond to over $2 trillion of State and Local bid opportunities.
• Multilingual counselors fluent in Spanish and other languages to ensure outreach and accessibility in all states and territories.

Leaders in the business community joined Administrator Guzman in celebrating the launch of Empower to Grow:

“The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. expresses its enthusiastic support for the latest announcement by the Biden-Harris Administration on the ongoing headway to enhance small business access to federal contracts for historically marginalized entrepreneurs. The progress unveiled by the Administration aligns with our commitment to creating opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and promoting diversity within the business landscape. As champions for economic inclusion, we applaud President Biden’s historic actions to deploy nearly $70 billion in federal contracts to SDBs over the last year, nearly $500 million of which went to Black-owned firms. In keeping with this progress, we commend the continued emphasis on increasing transparency, streamlining processes, and ensuring fair competition in federal contracting,” said Ron Busby Sr., President and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. “To maintain such progress, we encourage continued collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to implement and refine these initiatives effectively. As we highlighted three years ago during the beginning of this Administration, the USBC remains dedicated to working with the White House, policymakers, corporations, and community leaders to advance economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs.”

“The Small Business Administration’s ‘Empower to Grow’ program represents a significant advancement in supporting small and minority-owned businesses and creating a diverse federal contracting environment, a commitment reflected in the historically higher increases in federal contracting dollars seen under the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Ramiro A. Cavazos, President & CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “At the USHCC, we applaud these efforts and recognize the transformative impact of tailored training and resources for small business owners, underscoring our ongoing commitment to work with the SBA to invest in and elevate our small business community. We also acknowledge that there remains much work to be done to ensure equitable opportunities for all.”

Small businesses are the heart and soul of our nation. They create increased opportunities for families and their communities and inspire entrepreneurs to join the great American legacy of innovation and growth. Where obstacles for disadvantaged communities have existed, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked hard to remove them and expand new pathways for equity. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman’s announcement of the Management and Technical Assistance program under the new title, Empower to Grow, builds on this,” said Ying McGuire, CEO & President, of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. “We applaud the new tools and training this program provides to small business owners from disadvantaged communities that will allow them to access better contracting opportunities, become more competitive, and increase their families and communities’ ability to flourish. NMSDC looks forward to its continued partnership with Administrator Guzman and the rest of the Biden-Harris Administration as we pursue more growth for the entire small business community.”

“The SBA’s ‘Empower to Grow’ is an important program for America’s small businesses. The updates recently announced to the program are a good step forward, primarily the steps taken around disaggregated data,” said Rhett Buttle, President, of Public Private Strategies Institute. “By providing enhanced coaching, training, and technology tools, ‘Empower to Grow’ enables these businesses to become contract-ready, fostering competition, innovation, and robust performance in federal spending.“

“New data reveals a historic surge in federal contracting dollars awarded to small businesses, boosting America’s competitiveness and contributing to the economy. This trend reflects the work of the Small Business Administration and the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies, which have led to sustained economic growth across the country,” said Tammy Halevy, Executive Director, of Reimagine Main Street. “Yet despite strong improvements in contracting, disparities persist. The ‘Empower to Grow’ initiative, which will result in even more contract-ready small and disadvantaged diverse-owned businesses, will further enhance American innovation, supply chain resilience, and competitiveness of the U.S. economy.” 

“In recent years, Biden-Harris Administration policies have generated unprecedented success in federal contracting dollars reaching small businesses, but so many historic disparities persist,” said Shaundell Newsome, Founder of Sumnu Marketing, Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair. “The SBA’s ‘Empower to Grow’ initiative reinforces a commitment to continuous economic improvement by taking a proactive stance in closing gaps and ensuring business owners have all the tools they need at their disposal. Small and disadvantaged businesses can thrive when we ensure a level playing field.”

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NEW YORK: On Jan. 27, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses traveled to Las Vegas with Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment and opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Administrator Guzman and Vice President Harris joined U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Eric Morrissette, Interim Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), for a visit to The Chef Jeff Project. Founded by Chef Jeff Henderson, The Chef Jeff Project is a non-profit organization that teaches at-risk young people and those with prior involvement in the criminal justice system culinary and soft skills to help them secure employment.

At The Chef Jeff Project, the leaders discussed a forthcoming SBA rule that will remove restrictions on loan programs that currently prevent returning citizens, including those who are currently on parole and probation, from being eligible for loans. As part of that rule change, the SBA will also remove questions about criminal history from its loan applications. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, more Americans than ever are filing applications to start a new business, and this rule change will build on that historic momentum by providing a second chance to those seeking the American Dream of entrepreneurship.

Administrator Guzman then joined Second Gentleman Emhoff for visits to local Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander-owned small businesses, including World Wide Safety, Status Sparkling Wine, and Straight Up Café, to learn about the state of the AAPI-owned small business landscape under this Administration. The leaders heard from the small business owners about their entrepreneurial journeys and highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s Small Business Boom, which has seen 16 million new business applications filed since President Biden took office – including 185,000 in Nevada alone.

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WASHINGTON: This January 23, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)and the voice for America’s more than 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, kicked off America’s Seed Fund Week with remarks highlighting the upcoming 2024 Seed Fund Road Tour as well as the critical role small businesses play in expanding technological innovation across the nation.

America’s Seed Fund Week is a virtual three-day event series from Jan. 23-25 and will be followed by America’s Seed Fund Road Tour, traveling to 16 states and territories later in the year. These events connect innovators and entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage technology funding opportunities, America’s Seed Fund. Fostering innovation and increasing our nation’s global competitiveness while promoting small business growth are crucial pillars of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.  

“America relies on ingenuity to develop critical technologies and create future industries, and we need all great ideas and inventions to propel our global leadership. This is a remarkable time to start up in this country – under the Biden-Harris Administration, we are Investing in America, research and development, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and more, said Administrator Guzman in her remarks. “President Biden believes that America is about possibilities. And he’s fighting to ensure American ingenuity and innovation can power our economy and nation forward.” 

2024 America’s Seed Fund Week Highlights  

• Connect with federal agency representatives during Meet the Program Director Sessions organized by technology areas, including artificial intelligence, health, energy, earth, climate, weather, cybersecurity, and space.
• Network nationwide for introductions and conversations.
• Meet the 2024 Road Tour, in-person state hosts. America’s Seed Fund Week is the virtual kickoff of SBA’s 2024 Road Tours. There will be four in-person tours beginning in February. Meet the hosts and learn more about the regional stop nearest to you.
• Learn SBIR/STTR basics with SBA Core Content.

America’s Seed Fund Week is free and open to the public. Interested individuals may get event information and register to view the main stage events by visiting: www.americasseedfund.us/america-s-seed-fund-week. The main stage will be recorded for all three days and available on the SBA’s YouTube channel for viewing after the event.

America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort that conveys the technology funding opportunities provided through America’s Seed Fund, the Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR), and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This year, each in-person Road Tour stop is hosted by SBA’s Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners, who serve as navigators for America’s Seed Fund in their regions.

“America’s Seed Fund Road Tour plays an important role in educating and encouraging entrepreneurs, many of whom are historically underrepresented in America’s innovation economy, to access federal resources available through the SBIR/STTR programs and support the mission of scientific excellence and technological innovation to build a thriving and secure American economy,” said Associate Administrator for Investment and Innovation Bailey DeVries.

America’s Seed Fund Week will feature virtual panels, presentations, and breakout sessions that bring together program participants with federal agency SBIR/STTR program managers and resource providers to help navigate the funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.

2024 In-Person Road Tour Schedule

2024 Road Tour Coastal

• Feb. 7 – Orlando, Florida| Host: Florida High Tech Corridor
• Feb. 9 – San Juan, PR | Host: Puerto Rico Small Business, Technology and Development Centers

2024 Road Tour South

• April 2 – Little Rock, Arkansas | Host: Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
• April 3 – Jackson, Mississippi | Host: Innovate Mississippi, Jackson State University and The University of Southern Mississippi
• April 4 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Host: Louisiana Technology Transfer Office
• April 5 – Houston, Texas | Host: University of Texas at San Antonio – Texas South-West SBDC Technology Commercialization Center

2024 Road Tour Southeast

• May 13 – Columbia, South Carolina | Host: University of South Carolina
• May 14 – Atlanta, Georgia | Host: Innovation Gateway-University of Georgia, Center for Black Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Center at Morehouse
• May 15 – Knoxville, Tennessee | Host: Launch Tennessee
• May 16 – Lexington, Kentucky | Host: Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation
• May 17 – Huntington, West Virginia | Host: TechConnect West Virginia and Marshall University

2024 Road Tour Great Lakes

• July 15 – East Lansing, Michigan | Host: BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting’s Michigan Catalyst Advantage Network
• July 16 – Indianapolis, Indiana | Host: Indiana Economic Development Corporation
• July 17 – Champaign-Urbana, Illinois | Host: Research Park at the University of Illinois
• July 18 – Madison, Wisconsin | Host: Center for Technology Commercialization
• July 19 – Minneapolis, Minnesota | Host: MNSBIR, Inc.

How to complete a quad chart

Innovator’s Guide for preparing for 1:1 meetings with federal SBIR/STTR program representatives

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SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced the successful permanent establishment of the Community Advantage Program at the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) annual conference. The CA SBLC license builds on the success of more than a decade of the Community Advantage Pilot Program.

“Access to capital remains the greatest barrier for entrepreneurs looking to add jobs or start and grow their businesses – especially women, people of color, veterans, and rural and LMI communities,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA has prioritized closing longstanding capital gaps by expanding the number of lenders focused on underserved markets so these highly entrepreneurial communities can power our economy. As a result of our transformative regulatory reforms, the SBA has now made permanent and expanded its number of mission-driven lenders in Community Advantage SBLC to over 140 strong. These lenders will help fund and power our nation’s small business boom and ensure small businesses can benefit from the President’s Invest in America economic agenda.”

“The new Community Advantage Small Business Lending Company (CA-SBLC) licenses in the 7(a) Loan Program ensures that mission lenders, like CDFIs, can continue to partner with the SBA in supporting small businesses across the country. After more than a decade as a pilot program, the CA-SBLC license provides certainty to underinvested small businesses and the specialized lenders that serve them,” said Harold Pettigrew, President and CEO at Opportunity Finance Network. “We applaud the leadership of Administrator Guzman and the SBA for revitalizing this underutilized SBA program and ensuring the tools and resources are available to close the capital gaps that persist for far too many entrepreneurs.”

The strengthened network of CA SBLCs includes all 112 of the Community Advantage Pilot Lenders who wanted to continue SBA lending, collectively representing 99.8% of the original CA Pilot Program’s lending portfolio, along with 31 new mission lenders approved in the last sixty days.

The Community Advantage Loan Pilot Program was originally launched during the Obama-Biden Administration and set to expire in 2022 before the Biden-Harris Administration extended it. The Pilot Program will sunset on October 31, 2023, to make way for the permanent role of the CA SBLCs within the SBA lending ecosystem.

Community Advantage lenders serve businesses that historically have been excluded from access to capital due to limited financial resources and many other systemic barriers. Under the Pilot Program, Community Advantage lenders have contributed to small-dollar lending outcomes that increased lending to Black and Brown borrowers.

The SBA’s transformative regulatory reforms have made it possible to expand the number of mission-driven lenders in Community Advantage SBLC to over 140 strong. These lenders will help fund and power our nation’s small business boom and ensure small businesses can benefit from the President’s Invest in America economic agenda.

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WASHINGTON: Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses and startups in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the appointment of 15 members to the newly established Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee (IIEAC). The advisory committee’s main objective is to promote, expand, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem, including innovation commercialization, lab-to-market translation, and constructing a more equitable, inclusive federal innovation ecosystem.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is working to ensure America’s entrepreneurs get the support they need to innovate and commercialize to create the industries of the future and solve global problems,” said Administrator Guzman. “The distinguished members of this newly launched advisory committee will serve as an important resource with insights and recommendations to help us build policies and programs that foster American ingenuity, innovation, and economic competitiveness.“

The IIEAC consists of members with a diverse set of perspectives, experiences, and occupational backgrounds across America that will help accelerate support for startups and small businesses.

“The members of the advisory committee will inform how the SBA, and the federal government more broadly, think about addressing persistent gaps in support for entrepreneurs inventing, commercializing, and scaling breakthrough innovations that are critical to our country’s global economic competitiveness and national security,” said Associate Administrator for Investment and Innovation Bailey DeVries.

Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee Members

• IIEAC Chair: Philip Gaskin, Executive Fellow and Strategic Advisor to the CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Mo.)
• IIEAC Vice Chair: Julie Lenzer, Chief Innovation Officer, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (N.H.)
• Eric Adolphe, CEO & Founder, Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (Texas)
• Dr. Ramon Barquin III, Chairman of the Board, Atlantic University (Puerto Rico)
• Richard Carroll, Chairman, Innovative Defense Enterprises (Fla.)
• Dr. Dedric Carter, Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Chief Commercialization Officer, Washington University in Saint Louis (Mo.)
• Dr. Carol Dahl, Board Member, VentureWell, VertueLab, and Washington Research Foundation; Trustee, Wisys (Wash.)
• Colleen D. Egan, President and CEO, Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (Ill.)
• ML Mackey, CEO, Beacon Interactive Systems (Mass.)
• Andrew McCandless, Chairman and CEO, Bascom Hunter (La.)
• David McFeeters-Krone, Principal, Intellectual Assets (Ore.)
• Dr. Sally Morton, Executive Vice President, Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise (Ariz.)
• Dr. Jake Reder, CEO, Celdara Medical (N.H.)
• Dr. Jenny Servo, President, Dawnbreaker (N.Y.)
• Timothy Tiemann, Managing Director of Innovation Programs, California State University Northridge (Calif.)

 Additional information about the Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee can be found atInvention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee (sba.gov). The SBA will announce additional IIEAC members and public meeting dates in the coming weeks.

Appointment terms are set for two years. Members of the advisory committee do not receive a salary, nor are they eligible to officially represent the SBA. Their selection does not connote an endorsement of their organizations.

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National Preparedness Month outlines specific steps for communities to take to prepare for a disaster and possibly avoid potential economic and physical damage to individuals, small businesses, and their communities.  

“Natural disasters caused by climate change are increasing in frequency and economic impact, and the Biden-Harris Administration is investing in sustainability and committed to helping small businesses and individuals prepare to recover quickly when disaster strikes,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “SBA is helping businesses across the country create emergency response plans so they can limit damage and disruption – building resiliency for our neighborhoods and our economy.”

The SBA recommends three critical steps to build upon the tools of resilience:

Step 1: Assess Risk
Every business has unique vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Knowing what type of disasters will most likely affect your business can help you return to operations faster. A back-to-business self-assessment can help assess risks for common hazards such as hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, or even cyberattacks.

 Step 2: Create a Plan
The response plan is the roadmap to recovery and should be tailored to the business’s specific needs and operations.  It should address immediate priorities and be easy to access.

Every disaster is different. Review the resources to lessen the physical and financial impact of a disaster:

Step 3: Practice and Test Your Plan with Employees

“There are no geographical boundaries for a potential disaster. Climate change only adds to the uncertainty, amplifying the frequency and catastrophe,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “The most important thing small businesses can do to mitigate a disaster’s impact is to have a plan and be prepared. As National Preparedness Month, September is an important reminder that we should always stand ready to protect our homes, businesses, and communities from the challenges that disasters bring.” 

In the past year, the SBA approved more than $2 billion to help residents, renters, private nonprofits, and small businesses across all 50 states and territories recover from the tremendous physical and financial impacts of natural and non-pandemic physical disasters, including multiple hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, all of which have been rising in frequency and severity at significant physical, human, and economic costs.

The SBA’s disaster loan program is the only federal assistance program for businesses of all sizes and can be used to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Additionally, businesses of all sizes are eligible for up to 20 percent of the total physical loss of real estate damages, as verified by SBA, to add protective measures to mitigate future damages against the next event.

If a small business cannot meet its obligations and operating expenses after a disaster, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to provide working capital until the small business can resume normal operations. This assistance is available regardless of any property damage.

Questions about disaster loans can be emailed to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or directed to SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing). Information on SBA’s core lending programs, revenue growth opportunities, and technical assistance can be found at SBA.gov.

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WASHINGTON DC: Join the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) for their in-person public meeting on September 13th at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C. This meeting will allow Council Members to recap engagements from the past year and deliberate policy recommendations before a public audience. SBA Administrator Guzman will answer the Council’s questions, and the Council will answer yours. To save yourself a seat, be sure to register ASAP.

REGISTER

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to provide advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. To learn more, please visit www.NWBC.gov.

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KANSAS: On Tuesday, August 15, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, will visit Abilene, Kansas, to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the Small Business Administration alongside local small business owners and highlight how President Biden’s Investing in America economic agenda continues to deliver for small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.

Administrator Guzman, Kansas elected officials, and local leaders will deliver remarks recognizing the SBA’s seventy years of service to small business owners, connecting entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, federal contracting opportunities, and more. Established by President Eisenhower on July 30, 1953, via the Small Business Act, the SBA has since provided billions of dollars in support to small businesses across the country. After seven decades of helping entrepreneurs achieve their American Dreams of small business ownership, the SBA continues to assist millions of small business owners every year through resources and strategic guidance, helping them build meaningful lifelong connections and sustain their local economies.

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WASHINGTON: Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a road tour to Midwest states connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding – America’s Seed Fund. America’s Seed Fund, comprised of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, supports next-generation research & development (R&D), providing over $4 billion each year in non-dilutive funding from 11 participating federal agencies. America’s Seed Fund Road Tour plays an essential role in increasing engagement with innovation ecosystems across the country and building out inclusive networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research. 

“The Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda is about investing in innovators across the nation, including the American heartland,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “America’s Seed Fund Road Tour ensures that America’s Seed Fund is accessible to businesses in all parts of the country, promoting the development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies that drive our innovation economy and global competitiveness.” Each Road Tour stop is hosted by SBA’s Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners, who serve as navigators connecting entrepreneurs to America’s Seed Fund opportunities in their regions. At each stop, entrepreneurs and small business owners can meet one-on-one with federal agency representatives and attend programming to support their America’s Seed Fund journey.

America’s Seed Fund Road Tour: Midwest, July 17-21

Monday, July 17 | Oklahoma City, OK Venue: OKC Convention Center
Hosted by OK Catalyst, University of Oklahoma
Tuesday, July 18 | Wichita, KS Venue: Wichita State University, Woolsey Hall
Hosted by Wichita State University
Wednesday, July 19 | Kansas City, MO Venue: Bloch School at the University of Missouri – Kansas City
Hosted by Missouri Small Business Development Center, University of Missouri
Thursday, July 20 | Lincoln, NE Venue: Howard L. Hawks Hall
Hosted by Nebraska Business Development Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Friday, July 21 | Des Moines, IA Venue: FFA Enrichment Center, Des Moines Area Community
Hosted by the Iowa Small Business Development Center, Iowa State University of Science and Technology

For detailed information on the America’s Seed Fund Road Tour route and registration to attend in person, visit www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour.

For more information about America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) programs, please visit www.sbir.gov.

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