Small Business

SBA: West Virginia and Massachusetts Women-Owned Firms Take Top Honors in Federal Contracting

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced two women-owned firms will receive awards honoring their work in federal contracting.  Action Facilities Management, Inc. (AFM), an 8(a)-certified commercial facilities management firm specializing in infrastructure and security support services from Morgantown, West Virginia;  and Specialty Materials Inc. (SMI), a firm specializing in composite fiber and prepreg products that support the aerospace…

SBA: $3 Million in Grants to Organizations Supporting Small Business Innovation and R&D Commercialization Awarded

The U.S. Small Business Administration granted 24 awards up to $125,000 each for specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance for R&D-focused small businesses under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program administered by the SBA’s Office of Innovation and Technology.  FAST seeks to improve outcomes in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)…

Federal Reserve: FAQs Updated to Clarify Board and Treasury’s Expectations Regarding Lending Underwriting for the Main Street Lending Program

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) to clarify the Board and Department of Treasury’s expectations regarding lender underwriting for the Main Street Lending Program. The revised FAQs emphasize that lender underwriting should look back to the borrower’s pre-pandemic condition and forward to their post-pandemic prospects. The FAQs also clarify…

Census Bureau: Small Business Pulse Survey Phase 2 Weekly Data Release

The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from the second phase of the experimental Small Business Pulse Survey. Data collection began Aug. 9, 2020. Results will be released weekly starting Aug. 20 through Oct. 15, 2020. The second phase includes questions on the core concepts from the first phase of the survey, as well as…

EDA: $10.2 Million Invested to Establish High-Tech Business Incubator at the Innovation Park in Tallahassee, FL

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $10.2 million grant to the Leon County Research and Development Authority, Tallahassee, Florida, to build a 40,000 square-foot, high-tech business incubator within the Innovation Park of Tallahassee to aid in the formation and expansion of technology businesses,…

SBA: Minnesota Investment Firm Named Small Business Investment Company of the Year

 Spell Capital Mezzanine SBIC Partners II, L.P of Minneapolis, MN, has been named the 2020 Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of  National Small Business Week.  Spell Capital Mezzanine, along with other national winners and finalists for the National Small Business Person of the Year, will be honored…

SBA: 2020 Phoenix Award Champions Honored for Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts

The  U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the 2020 National Small Business Week Phoenix Award winners for their outstanding and inspiring resilience in the aftermath of devastating disasters.  The virtual National Small Business Week event, rescheduled from May due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held September 22-24. This year’s National Small Business Week activities will include numerous educational panels providing…

EDA: $35 Million Invested to Fuel High-Growth Entrepreneurship Across America

Economic Development Administration’s Build to Scale Program Supports Efforts of 52 Organizations in 36 States U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that 52 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 36 states will receive grants totaling $35 million to support entrepreneurship, acceleration of company growth, and increased…

CFPB: Outline of Proposals Under Consideration to Implement Small Business Lending Data Collection Released

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) released its Outline of Proposals Under Consideration and Alternatives Considered for Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act governing small business lending data collection and reporting. The Bureau will convene a Small Business Advocacy Review panel in October 2020. The panel will prepare a report that examines the impact of…

EDA: Over $53 Million in CARES Act Funding Invested to Support Recovery from Coronavirus Pandemic

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development (EDA) administration has awarded over $10 Million in CARES Act Funding to support economic development and economic recovery in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Investments include: September 11, 2020 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $68,250 in CARES Act Recovery Funds to Support Entrepreneurial Growth Efforts in West Michigan…