Small Business

SBA: U.S. Census Bureau to Conduct New Business Survey, Combine and Replace Previous Surveys

The U.S. Census Bureau plans to conduct a new business survey, the Annual Business Survey, which will combine and replace previous Census surveys: the five-year Survey of Business Owners, the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs, and the Business R & D and Innovation for Microbusinesses survey.  The Census Bureau expects the proposed changes will streamline costs,…

SBA: Free Webinar Series to Help Small Businesses Navigate the HUBZone Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration will present a six-part, free webinar series to help small businesses navigate its Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone Program that will run from February to mid-March. The hour-long webinars will cover the following topics: Feb. 7 HUBZone Contracting:  Make the Federal Government Your Customer             2-3p.m. EST Small businesses will…

SBA: New Report Helps Explain Differences in Latino Business Ownership and Income

A new report prepared for the Office of Advocacy by Professor Robert Fairlie, “Latino Business Ownership: Contributions and Barriers for U.S. Born and Immigrant Latino Entrepreneurs,” evaluates the differences in Latino self-employment rates and business income, comparing immigrant and U.S.-born Latino men and women with non-minorities. Roughly 600,000 business owners are U.S.-born Latinos, with an…

Federal Reseve: Entrepreneurship and State Taxation

FEDS 2018-03 Entrepreneurship and State Taxation (PDF) E. Mark Curtis and Ryan A. Decker Abstract: Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in the economy, yet there exists little well-identified research into the effects of taxes on startup activity. Using recently developed county-level data on startups, we examine the effect of states’ corporate, personal and sales tax…

SBA: New Grant Opportunities Announced for Women’s Business Center Funding

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the availability of two new grant opportunities for established and aspiring Women’s Business Center host organizations to provide outcome-oriented business services for women entrepreneurs. The first grant funding opportunity is the Women’s Business Center Initial Phase Grant (#OWBO-2017-01-1) that will provide $75,000 for up to six eligible nonprofit…

Federal Reserve: Recent Trends in Small Business Lending and the Community Reinvestment Act

Tim Dore and Traci Mach In this note, we analyze data on small business loan originations collected under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to document heterogeneity in the recovery in small business lending since the financial crisis. Small business loan originations by CRA respondents declined significantly between 2007 and 2010 and, by 2016, have only…

FEMA: Disaster Assistance in Puerto Rico 90 Days After Hurricane Maria

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico– More than $870 million in federal funds has been provided to Puerto Rico survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This includes money paid out in FEMA grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans and National Flood Insurance Policy claims. These funds help make it possible to begin rebuilding homes and restoring communities….

FEMA: More Than $1 Billion in Assistance Approved for Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Federal assistance to survivors, municipality governments and Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria now tops $1 billion less than three months after Maria’s landfall. More than a million Puerto Rican residents registered for FEMA assistance. FEMA has provided funds to more than 366,000 families in Puerto…

FEMA: Applicants May Appeal an Initial FEMA Determination Letter

If you registered with FEMA following Hurricane Irma and received a determination letter regarding your eligibility for assistance, read the letter carefully. It might not be the final answer. You may just need to submit extra documents for FEMA to process your application. Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of…