Deepwater BP Oil Spill Assistance
The Alabama SBDC Network has certified business consultants in Mobile and
Baldwin counties, meeting one-on-one with companies impacted by the oil
spill.
In response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill, the SBA has authorized the
activation of the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program for these
8 counties: Mobile, Baldwin, Covington, Escambia, Geneva, Washington,
Clarke, and Monroe. With the EIDL
program, SBA is offering working capital loans up to $2 million at an
interest rate of 4 percent with terms up to 30 years. The loans may be used by small businesses that are unable to
pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be
paid because of the disaster’s impact.
Learn more about sources of
assistance in Alabama >>
Free Webinar Provides Tips on Testing Your Business Recovery
Plan
Once you’ve developed a business continuity plan,
it’s a good idea to make sure it works. A successful dry run will
reassure your management team, employees and customers that no matter
what disaster occurs, you’ll be back in business quickly. Key points
discussed during the live, interactive webinar include improving
recovery efficiency, minimizing downtime and protecting your business’
bottom line.
Live Webinar,
Tuesday, July 27, 1:00pm CST
Government Contracting Workshops - July 2010
The
Alabama PTAC Program offers a variety of training opportunities and
workshops designed specifically for Alabama businesses that want to
participate in the lucrative world of government contracting. While
training is available throughout the year, and throughout the state, the
month of July features several outstanding topics:
July 13: Deptarment of Defense - Mentor Protege
Program. Huntsville.
July 15: Proposal Development Workshop. Birmignham.
July 26: Contracting Workshop. Huntsville.
July 28: Proposal Development Workshop. Dothan.
July 29: Contracting with Maxwell Air Force Base. Montgomery.
Alabama Ranked 9th Most Friendly to Entrepreneurship
- The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, an Oakton, Va., nonprofit small-business advocacy group, released its 13th annual “Small Business Survival Index” — a ranking of which states (plus the District of Columbia) were least likely to make it difficult for entrepreneurs to do business from a government-cost perspective.
AL Small Business Person of the Year:
Scott & Kathy Green
Creative Concepts
Creative Concepts, Inc. specializes in the candy
business – not only developing the candy but also designing and assembling
the machines that dispense the candy. It is the world’s leading
manufacturer of interactive candy dispensing systems.
Press Release Coming Soon
Birmingham Entrepreneurs Sprout Their Own Business During Down Economy
Despite
the shaky national economy, individuals across Alabama are still pursuing
their dreams by starting their own businesses. After being laid off
from a larger company in Birmingham, Charlie and Cindy Thigpen finally had
an opportunity to pursue a business idea that they had been putting off for
years.
With some help from SBA's loan guarantee program, the Thigpens now
control their own destiny: Gardener's
Gallery, their new store in Pepper Place.
> Continue Reading >
SBA's Small Business Exporter of
the Year:
Horizon Shipbuilding
This
home-grown small business exporter makes specialized work boats to the
exacting standards of military, government, and commercial vessel operators
in waters around the globe. Learn how
Travis Short and Horizon Shipbuilding have grown through exporting, earning
SBA's Exporter of the Year.
Horizon Shipbuilding was recently featured on CNN as an example of how small businesses are turning to foreign markets to survive in tough economic times.
SBA Loans are a Bright Spot in Gloomy Economy: Wall Street Journal
SBA-backed
loans in the past have made up only a small portion of overall small-business
loans—around 7% to 8% according to the SBA's estimations. But thanks to
stimulus-related measures, SBA loans this year could be "pushing 10% to 15%,"
according to industry expert Bob Coleman, who keeps a pulse on SBA lending
through his independent publication, the Coleman Report.
Read
more about SBA loan growth>>
ASBDC is "Lifeline for Local Entrepreneurs"
An aspiring entrepreneur who was recently laid off due to the economic downturn received invaluable guidance from the Small Business Development Centers at Alabama A&M University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Between the two centers, this new company received help developing a business plan & web site, and was provided contacts of prime contractors and subcontractors in the area. With the help of UAH's center, this entrepreneur is taking advantage of a service that notifies him daily by e-mail about >>> Read More >>>
Regional Care: MyBiz Website Expands to Alabama
- The MyBiz Network connects entrepreneurs and service provider organizations across Mississippi and, as of July 2009, across the entire state of Alabama. MyBiz is a product of the West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development program.
2009 Alabama Small Business Person of the Year:
Barbara McClain
McClain Contracting, Inc.
Thmis
multi-functional construction company (bridge contruction and repair, storm
drains, pipe culverts, etc) grew from 5 employees in 1990, to 23 in 2008,
with a direct payroll of over $1 million. Learn how
McClain Contracting worked
with ASBDC and PTAC counselors to grow her business.
