DOE to partner with National Labs

The U.S. Department of Energy will be partnering with partnering with their National Laboratories and field sites to host regional Small Business Summits.

Each summit is designed to bring small business owners, U.S. Department of Energy procurement experts, and local liaisons together to discuss partnering with the small business community.

At the regional Small Business Summits, localized information will be presented about doing business with the Department's Laboratories and field sites, connecting small businesses to the 85 percent of the procurement dollars that are obligated to Facility Management Contractors.

For more information and updates on dates, times, locations, and other news about the new Small Business Summits, visit the Small Business Summits website or contact smallbusiness@hq.doe.gov.

Bonding Education Program Kicks-Off 2012 Series in Chicago

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bonding Education Program (BEP) has begun its 2012 schedule. The BEP, a partnership between the Surety and Fidelity Association of America and DOT's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, is designed to help small businesses become bond-ready and better able to compete for transportation contracts.

The BEP consists of an educational workshop component and a bond readiness component. The educational workshops include a curriculum designed to help small businesses improve their operations in order to become bonded or to increase their bonding capacity. The bond readiness component consists of one-on-one meetings with local surety representatives to assemble materials necessary to complete the bond process.

The program will expand this year to Columbia, South Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Birmingham, Alabama; Montgomery, Mississippi; Louisville, Kentucky; Oakland, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Albany, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; and Norfolk, Virginia.

For more information, please visit http://osdbu.dot.gov/bap/bep_main.cfm.

Export Green Trade Mission II: Energy & Environment

The Brazil-U.S. Business Council, in cooperation with the National Chamber Foundation, TradeRoots, and the International Trade Administration is inviting small businesses to grow their business by expanding in Brazil. 

Companies involved with renewable energy; energy efficiency; hydroelectric; smart grid; products related to grid efficiency, energy consumption, or distribution, among others; and environment solutions such as Brownfields; recycling; solid waste management; water and wastewater treatment; construction, and others in IT solutions, transportation, and logistics are encouraged to participate.

To apply for the trade mission, fill out the online Statement of Interest found at www.brazilcouncil.org/ExportGreenTradeMissionIIForm.

For more information about the trade mission and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Luciana Rocha-Goldman at lrochagoldman@uschamber.com or 202/463-5496 or go to www.brazilcouncil.org/events/export-green-trade-mission-ii-energy-environment.

ISDIP Offers Conference Grants to Public Sector

The International Society of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (ISDIP), the first global comprehensive association for the diversity and inclusion field, spanning all industries and sectors, launched a new initiative to fund conference registrations for nonprofit organizations and government agencies to attend the "Elevating the Diversity and Inclusion Profession" conference on April 24-27. 

Too often, individuals working in the public sector are excluded from diversity-related professional development, because of cost. But true to the ISDIP core mission, to provide diversity and inclusion education to individuals in both the public and private sectors, the organization is now absorbing 50 percent of the registration fee for nonprofit and government agency employees who register for the three-day event to be held at the Gran Melia Resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Only 25 grants will be approved on a first come, first served basis. Existing registrations are not eligible for grants.  Registration fees and grants will vary based on ISDIP member vs. non-member status. Grants do not include lodging, transportation, or other travel expenses.

To register and be among the 25 grant recipients, go to www.diversityandinclusionprofessionals.org/conference.html and follow the registration instructions for public sector organizations.

To become a member of the ISDIP, go to www.isdip.org.

USHCC Hosts 2012 Federal Procurement Business Matchmaking

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will hold a Matchmaker in conjunction with the 2012 Legislative Summit to be held March 21-23 in Washington, D.C.

Tailored to help Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBEs) from across the country meet with top government agencies awarding government contracts, the USHCC Federal Procurement Business Matchmaking facilitates one-on-one meetings for Hispanic-owned businesses like yours with procurement officials from agencies ranging from energy, telecom, financial services and more.

Participants must be pre-registered for the Legislative Summit AND pre-registered for Matchmaking in order to participate. Although there is no additional cost for Legislative Summit full registrants and Thursday Day Pass holders, Matchmaking does require a separate registration.

For more information on Business Matchmaking, contact My Business Matches at info@mybusinessmatches.com; on becoming a USHCC HBE, contact Eduardo Pereira, USHCC VP of Business Development, at epereira@ushcc.com; and to register for the conference, www.ushcclegislative.com.

SBA-backed Competition Yields Seven New Tools for Small Business Owners

As a result of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Apps for Entrepreneurs Challenge, a competition for tech-savvy developers to build new and useful web tools for small businesses, entrepreneurs can reach for their smartphone or tablet and search federal, state and local databases for vital information by using one of seven award-winning apps.

All seven apps can be downloaded from SBA's web site via entrepreneurs.challenge.gov/submissions.

These new mobile apps complement SBA's mobile application created for iPhone in partnership with Palo Alto Software. Users can employ the SBA app to find local Small Business Administration-affiliated advisers and get free, personal, one-on-one help with starting and growing their businesses.

The SBA mobile app also features a built-in startup cost calculator to help estimate the costs associated with getting a business off the ground, plus an SBA partner locator to help users find SBA offices, Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and SCORE.

Users will also have mobile access to SBA video content and social media alerts to provide them with tips on the go. This will include live updates from the SBA's YouTube channel and from SBA's Twitter feeds. The free mobile app can be downloaded from the SBAs website at sba.gov/content/sba-mobile-app.

FAA Web-Based DBE Information System Expanded

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in partnership with B2Gnow, a small business enterprise, has created and is expanding the dbE-Connect System. The system is an electronic national repository of certified DBEs and ACDBEs that can be matched with business opportunities at airports nationwide. DBEs can search for contracting opportunities and airports/primes can search for the list for possible partners and suppliers. Available at https://faa.dbesystem.com, the system also provides access to FAA-specific DBE and ACBDE program information and additional program websites.

A recent addition is the option for grant recipients to publish their DBE and ACDBE notice of goals. To post your goals complete the online form. Goals will be posted within 48 hours and remain posted for 90 days.

Disabled Veterans Boot Camp Expands

SBA and Syracuse University have expanded the successful Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program to an eighth school, Cornell University. The growing partnership between SBA and Syracuse University, now in its third year, provides training for starting and growing a small business with programs targeted to service-disabled veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their family caregivers, women veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members and their families.

The boot camp was created and delivered by a network of some of the best business schools in the country. Last year, the first year SBA partnered with Syracuse University, 129 service-disabled veterans participated in the program. Since the program's inception, more than 320 wounded warriors have graduated and more than 150 businesses have been launched by graduates. Participating schools include: Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, UCLA, Florida State University, Texas A&M University, Purdue University, Louisiana State University, and now, Cornell University.

SBA reaches out to veterans through its 68 SBA district offices, 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide, more than 1,000 Small Business Development Centers, 110 Women's Business Centers and some 12,000 SCORE volunteers. SBA also has numerous programs creating government contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov/vets and www.sba.gov/reservists.

ISM Introduces New Professional Credential

Big opportunities are in store for people who want to build their careers and professional influence in supply management and procurement. Less than one week from today, Institute for Supply Management (ISM) unveils the Certified in Supply Management (CSM).This new certification option allows a broad range of practitioners to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in supply management, regardless of whether they have a degree. Eligible candidates can register through ISM for the CSM Exam, and will have one year from the date they register to schedule their computer-based exam.

The new CSM joins ISMs globally-recognized Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) program to set a common standard of measurement for professionals to demonstrate mastery of supply management knowledge and skills. The CSM tests the same body of knowledge as the CPSM. Eligibility for the CSM is dependent on a candidates work experience and educational background, as well as successfully passing the required exam(s).

For more information on the CSM program, CSM Exam specifications, and registration link, visit www.ism.ws/2866. Opportunities for on-site CSM Exam testing and review are also available.

Resource Manual for Airport In-Terminal Concessions Available

The Manual was recently published by the Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration. Among other topics and case studies, the Manual contains useful information on the airport concession process; developing a concession space plan and concession mix; the ACDBE program; and concession procurement, contracting, and management practices. It is a practical tool for airport staff responsible for business decisions affecting the development of concession programs and plans, as well as an informational tool for airport board members, airlines involved in creating concession programs, concessionaires, and other airport stakeholders.

The research and development of the manual was conducted by LeighFisher and minority, woman-owned, Exstare Federal Services Group, LLC.Copies may be ordered online at www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore.

Potential New Financial Resources for MBEs

The Business Consortium Fund (BCF), a non-profit company affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), has started making direct loans of up to $1.125 million to NMSDC-certified suppliers.

In addition to its new direct loan program, the BCF has also begun providing accounts receivable financing (factoring). In many cases, the BCF can offer this financing at a lower rate due to its participation in the funding of the factoring line of credit. BCF's President, Mark Harrison has stated that "BCF can now address many of the working capital needs of certified MBEs with the advent of our new loan products combined with our traditional loan guaranty program."

For more information, contact BCF at 212/243-7360 or go to www.bcfcapital.com.

Free Whitepaper Download Now Available

Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council recently published a new whitepaper titled, "The Role of Minority Business Enterprises as a Catalyst for Economic Development and Job Creation." The document discusses the importance of supplier diversity and supply chain management for minority businesses and the impact that minority employers have on the employment and hiring rates that spur economic development in various industries and business sectors.

The document is available as a free download on the CarolinasMSDC website at http://carolinasmsdc.org/resources/white-papers/

NMSDC Offers New Online Tool

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has teamed with minority-owned NuLevel Strategic Solutions to offer a series of free online tools, the Biz-Fit Challenge, to help NMSDC‐certified minority business owners assess the health of their businesses. The tools are designed to:

• Assess your business' health relative to profitability, liquidity, solvency, leverage and efficiency - the most common factors considered by capital providers.
• Assess how your business is performing relative to their industry peers.
• Use the Breakeven Analyzer to determine your company's current breakeven revenues and its five-year projected breakeven revenues.

This tool can also help minority businesses determine their minimum revenue requirements on an annual, monthly, weekly and per unit basis. Many firms may use this data as a core component in implementing long‐range or strategic plans.

For more information and to register for the Biz‐Fit Challenge, visit http://www.nmsdc.org.

NOTE: Research by NuLevel Strategic Solutions indicates that the Biz-Fit Challenge is most beneficial for businesses with annual revenues between $1 million and $5 million.

HUD Award Grants to Revitalize Brownsfields

In six cities across the country, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has award $13.3 million to stimulate job growth and revitalize unproductive industrial areas known as brownfields. The grants, combined with an addition $35 million in federal loan guarantees, is expected to generate total public and private investment in these areas to more than $166 million.

Philadelphia; Cleveland; Toledo, Ohio; Santa Rosa, California; Taunton, Massachusetts; and Ranson, West Virginia will each receive grants under HUD's Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) and are expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs as part of their redevelopment strategies.

More information about HUD and its programs is available at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.

House Small Business Committee Launches New Communication Tool

Noting the need for more communication from small businesses, the House Small Business Committee has launched a brand new interactive online community today called Small Biz Open Mic. This interactive online community will give small business owners from all across America the ability to communicate directly with the House Small Business Committee at www.smallbusiness.house.gov/openmic.

The Small Biz Open Mic website encourages blog-type comments and testimonials from small business owners regarding government policies, and allows participants to comment on Committee news, legislation, hearings, and news stories that relate to small business growth and development. Comments from participants about legislation and policies that impact small businesses will be used to help the Committee conduct its official business.

Go to www.smallbusiness.house.gov/openmic and interact with our Committee. Make your voice heard.