Small Business News | SBTV Daily Business News

Small Business Economic Stimulus Plan

The most recent economic stimulus package is over a thousand pages and comes with a price tag of seven hundred and eighty seven billion dollars and lawmakers want to make sure there is adequate opportunity for small business. Lawmakers have heard testimony from key federal agencies in an effort to ensure small firms and veteran-owned businesses secure their share of contracts under the ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” A Subcommittee of the House Committee on Small Business also heard from small business owners and veterans’ advocates about their experiences seeking federal contracting opportunities. The Recovery act contains a package of loan fee reductions, higher guarantees, new SBA programs, and incentives to boost economic recovery for the nation’s small firms. The SBA’s associate administrator for the Office of Capital Access is scheduled to host a Web chat tomorrowon the stimulus measures and your small business. Get the details on how to participate and post your questions at www.sba.gov.

Military Veterans Turning to Business Ownership

Military veterans are joining the ranks of entrepreneurship in greater numbers! Vets account for 14 percent of small businesses nationally, including 7 percent that are operated by service-disabled veterans, according to the U.S. House Small Business Subcommittee. Two of the more than five million veteran entrepreneurs making a critical contribution to country and community as business owners are two former Marines drawing on their training to search and recover fallen comrades overseas. Benjamin Lichtenwalner and Ryan Sawyer started Biotrauma, specializing in the restoration of businesses and homes after an accident, crime, or other traumatizing incident. The Georgia based company recently expanded service to Alabama.

Home Businesses & Federal Taxes

Many of the nation’s small businesses are based in the home, which can lead to tax questions. So we went to the Internal Revenue Service to get tips on home business deductions. The IRS offers a virtual small business workshop in online streaming video and also available on DVD.

Virtual Technology

A virtual technology infrastructure is now within the reach of more small and mid-sized firms by pooling common tech resources. More firms like Techcess offer hosting solutions for small and mid-sized firms. For example, the Houston based company invested a quarter of million dollars at a hosted data facility and provides a variety of services to small businesses to give them the same processing options as their larger competitors.

One Business Essential to Iditarod 2009

Satellite technology, the kind used to track vehicles and packages is required this year for mushers in the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The three week, one thousand mile race in some of the world’s harshest conditions is a ten thousand year old transportation method----with the latest technology. IonEarth has developed a bi-directional global positioning system, which permits race organizers, media and fans to follow the movement of all mushers in near real-time throughout the race at www.iditarod.com Is there a local sporting event your business could partner with to drive business? Think about it as you check out the mushers online.

Cupcakes Pay Off for One Green Company

One small firm is cashing in on cupcakes without doing any baking! Corrugated cardboard is enjoying new life as an environmentally friendly party and wedding centerpiece: a cupcake tree! The cupcake trees are made in Michigan come in several shapes and sizes. The popular centerpieces have been shipped to every state in the nation and internationally to fifteen countries and new shapes and sizes are coming out this spring.

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