Let’s Celebrate National Small Business Week – Together, Online and in your Community!

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SBA is gearing up for National Small Business Week, June 17-21. This year we are taking the show on the road offering educational panels and workshops on topics like how to start business, social media 101, how to protect your business against cyber security threats, how to start exporting, just to name a few.

The week will kick off in Seattle on June 17, followed by events in Dallas, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. We’ll end the week in Washington, DC were we will honor small businesses from across the United States and culminate in the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.

Check out the full conference schedule here.

Hang Out with SBA and Industry Experts

As part of National Small Business Week, SBA will host a series of Google+ Hangouts which will be  streamed live at www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek, http://www.youtube.com/sba, and http://plus.google.com/+sbagov. All Hangouts will start at 4pm ET. Topics and panelists include:

Panelists from Twitter, Constant Contact, W20 Group and Google will hang out.  Bill Murphy Jr.,  author and columnist for Inc.com will moderate the Hangout.

Panelists from Yelp, LinkedIn, OpenSky, Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp., Google and Manta will hang out. Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of GrowBiz Media will moderate the Hangout.                  

Panelists from the SBA's Office of Entrepreneurial Development, America's Small Business Development Centers, and Women’s Business Centers will hang out.  Fran Tarkenton, NFL legend and entrepreneur will moderate the Hangout.

Panelists from Wells Fargo, SCORE, SBA Office of Capital Access, and SBA loan recipient Ninkasi Brewing Company will hang out.  Calvin Goings, SBA regional administrator will moderate the Hangout. 

How can you get Involved?

You can still register for events in St. Louis, and Washington, DC.  If you can't travel, you can still take part by joining live streaming webcasts of all events and Hangouts as they happen (keep an eye on the event website and follow SBA on Twitter and Facebook for more details as the event approaches).  If you are tweeting, the official hashtag is #SBW2013.

Hi, my name is Natale and I'm serving as a Moderator for the SBA Community. Our goal is to continually improve this site to meet your needs, so we appreciate your feedback and participation.Tags: Official SBA News and Views, Open For Business, Financing, Managing, Mentoring and Training, SBA News and Views, Starting

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50 Years of National Small Business Week

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by Karen Mills, SBA Administrator

Created: June 14, 2013, 10:13 pmUpdated: June 17, 2013, 10:16 am

This year marks the 50th anniversary of National Small Business Week.  Although things have certainly changed since President Kennedy signed the first Presidential Proclamation in 1963, one thing that hasn’t changed is America’s entrepreneurial spirit and the important role that small business owners play in our economy and our communities.

This week, President Obama has continued America’s tradition of honoring the spirit and success of American small business owners by proclaiming June 17 - 21 to be 2013’s National Small Business Week. Small businesses have always been the backbone of our economy, and we know that the success of America’s small businesses is critical to growing our economy and increasing our nation’s global competitiveness.

Small businesses create two out of three net new private sector jobs in our economy.  And today, half of all working Americans either own or work for a small business. Over the past five years, the Obama Administration has worked to rebuild the economy and ensure that small businesses are able to do what they do best: grow and create jobs.

This year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has revamped and redesigned our efforts to bring more tools, tips and resources to America’s 28 million small businesses, in conjunction with Administration-wide efforts to make government smarter, more responsive and more streamlined.  And throughout National Small Business Week, we’ll be focused on workshops, hands-on assistance, matchmaking and mentoring for small business owners in the following cities: 

June 17 - Seattle, Wa.June 18 - Dallas/Ft. Worth, TexasJune 19 - St. Louis, Mo.June 20 - Pittsburgh, Pa.June 21 - Washington, D.C.

Throughout the week, we’ll be joined by entrepreneurs and experts including Jack Dorsey (Square and Twitter co-founder), Angie Hicks (founder of Angie’s List), David Steward (founder and chairman of Worldwide Technologies) and Fran Tarkenton (former NFL quarterback and entrepreneur). 

If you don’t live in these cities, you can tune into our events via live stream at www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek, and by joining our daily Google + Hangouts with additional business and social media experts. During National Small Business Week, we also encourage you to visit your favorite local small business and tell us about it on Twitter with the official hashtag #SBW2013.

In Washington, D.C., we’ll finish the week by honoring outstanding entrepreneurs from every state and U.S. territory and announcing our 2013 National Small Business Person of the Year.  This year’s winners represent the incredible diversity of small businesses; from technological start-ups and health care providers, to a helicopter pilot training school and an organic vegetable farm.  And they are all inspiring examples of the drive and creativity that makes America’s small businesses the true engine of our economy.

For generations, Americans have pursued the dream of owning their own small business. During National Small Business Week, we recognize the critical role that these small businesses play in America’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

Karen Gordon Mills is the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA helps both Main Street and high-growth small businesses get access to capital, counseling, federal contracts, disaster assistance and more.Tags: Official SBA News and Views, Open For Business

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Successful Encore Entrepreneurs Highlighted at National Small Business Week

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National Small Business Week, June 17-21, will feature dozens of successful small businesses from across the country, including entrepreneurs who started their business after age 50.

This year marks 50 years of National Small Business Week, and is fitting to highlight the thriving small business owners over the age of 50 who help drive the economy and create jobs.  The businesses range from a baker of Artisan breads to a helicopter pilot school, and from a maker of skincare and cosmetic products to an aerospace design firm.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will honor these businesses and the more than 100 outstanding business owners in Washington, D.C., on June 21 for their achievements.  The week will culminate with the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.

For more than 70 million Americans over 50, business ownership is a practical option.  It can be a second career or a chance to leverage life experiences into an interesting and financially practical “encore” career.  One in four individuals ages 44 to 70 is interested in becoming an entrepreneur and 63 percent of Americans plan to work during retirement.

One such business owner is Steve Miller of Boynton Beach, Fla., this year’s Florida Small Business Person of the Year.  After a 33-year career in the medical profession as a registered nurse, Miller was ready to dive head first into full-time small business ownership.

Miller received some advice and direction from a business development program through south Florida’s SCORE network.  “Herb Douglas was my business mentor and his guidance and input was crucial,” said Miller.  “Small business capital was not my concern as working out of the home minimized costs but I don’t think I would be where I am now without Herb’s mentorship and input from the great staff at SCORE.

Miller’s background provided him with an in-depth knowledge of the use of hospital devices, and in 2003, he founded EPreward, Inc., to provide precious metals recovery services to cardiology departments and medical offices.  Today, EPreward employs 10 full-time employees and had revenues of more than $2.8 million in 2012.

Small businesses are welcome to attend National Small Business Week events.

Participants can register online until June 12.

CeceliaT is a moderator for the SBA Community. We appreciate your participation and feedback on how we can continually improve the community to meet your small business needs.

Tags: Official SBA News and Views, Open For Business, SBA News and Views

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