SBA Cyber Summit, Disaster Preparedness Tips and More

 

Join SBA's webinar on October 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The webinar will feature a panel discussion with Gabe Esparza, Associate Administrator, SBA’s Office of International Trade; and small business owners Eduardo Ortiz of Coforma, LLC, in Washington, D.C. and Alejandro Ramirez of Universal Spartan, LLC, in Vine Grove, Kentucky.  The discussion will focus on financial wellness and the importance of equity and opportunity to help uplift and support Hispanic-owned small businesses. The panel will also discuss SBA initiatives and resources that support small business recovery, Hispanic-owned startups seeking to launch and help for existing Hispanic-owned small businesses as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world. Register   Looking for resources and tips to protect your small business against cyber threats? Join SBA for its first-ever National Cyber Summit on October 26, 2022 at Noon EDT. The free event will highlight tools, tips, and resources to help strengthen small business cybersecurity.   Register   This week, SBA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency announced partnerships to help small and disadvantaged businesses access capital and resources, working to ensure that all businesses can benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Watch the video from Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Secretary Pete Buttigieg for more information. Learn more   This week, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman visited Michigan and Illinois to meet inspiring small business owners who were able to pivot, recover and grow with help from SBA programs and resources. Follow the Administrator on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to see photos and videos of all her visits to small businesses across America. As a small business owner, you know what it means to build something worth protecting. Since the moment you dreamed up your business concept, you’ve done everything in your power to make sure it is successful and sustainable. Having a strategy for addressing expected obstacles is a big part of that. Preparing for the unexpected, however, is just as important. Disasters, by nature, are unpredictable. But they don’t have to catch you off guard. Being ready for a wide range of scenarios is the best protection you can have. Learn more   If you own a small business in the construction or service industry, you may need a surety bond. SBA-backed surety bonds can help you compete for larger contracts and grow your business. Learn more   Join SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute for a webinar on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET to learn about community initiatives and resources. And, save the date for upcoming webinars on October 12, 2022 and October 26, 2022. Register New Ascent Journey: Growing Globally This week, SBA launched a new educational module for Ascent, a digital training platform that helps women entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. The new module, “Growing Globally” explores ways women entrepreneurs can expand their small businesses into new, international markets.  Learn more SBA Announces $7.2 Million in PRIME Grants to Help Emerging Micro-Entrepreneurs  This week, SBA announced a $7.2 million grant award to 38 organizations under the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME). The PRIME award will support these nonprofit organizations as they help low-income entrepreneurs get financing to establish and expand their small businesses or provide capacity-building training for other organizations that provide capital to underserved small businesses.    Learn more Get Inspired: Small Business Success Story During Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting small business owners like Silvia Paulino who are making a big impact on the economy and their communities. Paulino started Silvia's Bakery in Philadelphia as a home-based business after she immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Sales quickly grew and she expanded the bakery business, moving into a larger facility and retail store to meet the needs of her community. With help from her local Small Business Development Center, she received counseling and training to grow the business. Learn more National Small Business Week Awards The National Small Business Week Awards are back! SBA is now accepting nominations for its 2023 National Small Business Week Awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year. Could you be our next winner? Submit your nomination today. Learn more Webinar: Small Business Retirement Plans (Presented in Spanish) Are you a small business owner looking for more information about retirement plans? Join the U.S. Department of Labor for a webinar in Spanish on September 27, 2022 to learn more about retirement plan options. Register Tribal Consultations on 8(a) Business Development Program Regulations SBA will hold a series of tribal consultation meetings and listening sessions in September and October to seek input on proposed revisions to 8(a) Business Development Program regulations. SBA is requesting comments on how best to propose policies that would impact Alaska Native Corporations, tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and 8(a) participants owned by these entities. See the links below for event and pre-registration details. Honolulu, HI – September 28