Page 41 - Equity Movement Magazine-Issue2

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE

How the U.S. SBA Can Help Your Small Business

An overview of the 4 main areas of service

that the US SBA provides to small businesses.

Valerie Maher

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the
American dream of business ownership a reality. We
do this by empowering entrepreneurs and small
business owners with the resources and support they
need to start and grow their small business. And, the
SBA is the only go-to resource and voice for small
businesses that is backed by the strength of the
federal government. For example, many people are
surprised to know that 99.5% of the businesses in the
Houston area are small according to the SBA... about
615,000 of them!

We help small businesses in 4 main areas:

1. Providing free business advising and mentoring, Business. If you are looking to expand with
plus free or low cost workshops through SBA’s government contracting, the Procurement Technical
resource partners SCORE, the Small Business Assistance Center (PTAC) can help. They can
Development Centers (SBDC), and the Women's determine if your business is ready for federal
Business Center (WBC). If you are an aspiring contracting, help you register in the proper places to
entrepreneur or small business owner looking for FREE get involved in the government marketplace, and see
mentorship and advice from real-world business if you're eligible for certifications.
executives, in person or virtually, and free online
workshops and webinars contact your nearest SCORE 3. Small businesses need money to start and grow,
chapter (www.score.org). If you’re an aspiring and we help them find it. First, we help with the SBA
entrepreneur or small business owner looking for FREE guaranteed loan program, where we level the playing
business consulting to get started or grow, in person field for small business by guaranteeing the bank that
or virtually, and low-cost training on crucial business a portion of your loan (usually 50% - 90%) is backed
topics contact your nearest SBDC by the SBA. Small businesses can use our online
(www.sba.gov/sbdc). If you are an aspiring or current referral tool www.sba.gov/lendermatch to find a local
woman small business owner looking for business SBA lender interested in your project or attend an in-
advice to level the playing field against unique person matchmaking event. We also offer Innovation
challenges or obstacles comprehensive training and Grants through the SBIR/STTR Program for businesses
counseling on a variety of topics contact the WBC that create new technologies and processes, as well as
(www.sba.gov/WBC). equity funding through our SBIC program.

2. Did you know that at least 23% of all federal 4. Finally, we help business as well as homeowners,
supplies and services contracts are targeted to small renters, and non-profits recover after a declared
business each year? We help small businesses win natural disaster through direct low interest loans.
these federal contracts in a variety of ways, including
the 8(a) Business Development Program and To learn more about SBA programs and to attend a
certification programs: Women-Owned Small workshop or webinar, visit the SBA District Office
Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, HUBZone nearest you
Business, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small

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