Small Business Administration:Women's History Month Events, Government Contracting Resources and More

 

Join the U.S. Small Business Administration on March 31, 2022 for an online event celebrating Women’s History Month. You will hear from industry experts including Natalie Madeira Cofield, SBA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business Ownership; Candace Waterman, President and CEO of the Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP); and Alisa Sheard, SBA Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development. The discussion will focus on financial wellness for women-owned small businesses, the importance of increasing equity and access to opportunities that help uplift and support women entrepreneurs, and SBA initiatives and resources that support existing women-owned small businesses and new startups as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world. Register   In celebration of Women’s History Month, join the SBA's Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for the virtual Women’s Business Summit on March 29-30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business. Panels and discussion topics include: Innovation and Investment Building an Equitable Recovery Framework for Women Entrepreneurs From Essential Worker to Essential Entrepreneur: CARE Economy Entrepreneurship Opportunities The $100B Marketplace: Contracting Opportunities for Women-led Firms Exporting & E-Commerce The Changing Landscape for Entertainment and Hospitality Industries Register Get Inspired: Small Business Success Story In celebration of Women's History Month, we are highlighting small business owners like Princess Ousley who is making an impact on the economy and her community. Over a decade ago, Ousley and her business partner founded Florida-based Elite Business Strategies, an 8(a) firm. Ousley worked with her local Small Business Development Center, which helped her forecast business growth and connect with a Procurement Center Representative. Ousley developed a crisis management plan and added a supply component to the business. This proved critical when the pandemic first hit and the demand for personal protective equipment soared. Through her established business relationships, Ousley was able to boost supplies, helping to meet the needs of federal agencies. Read more Join the SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) for a webinar on March 16, 2022 to learn about critical resources and information including how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the American Rescue Plan, and Made in America create opportunities to help small businesses thrive. Register   This week, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman led the Presidential Delegation to Chile to attend the Inauguration of Gabriel Boric as President of the Republic of Chile. Administrator Guzman also visited Michigan to meet with small business owners and leaders. Follow the Administrator on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to see photos and videos of all her visits.   Interested in government contracting? SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, Bibi Hidalgo discussed how small businesses can take advantage of government contracting opportunities during an interview with Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., host of The Chavis Chronicles. Watch Help Improve NIST Cybersecurity Resources  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking comments on the challenges organizations are facing from a technology supply chain perspective to inform a public-private partnership, the National Initiative for Improving Cybersecurity in Supply Chains (NIICS). NIST is seeking comments about needed tools and guidance and how NIICS might be aligned and integrated with the cybersecurity framework. This information will help NIST to identify and prioritize supply chain-related cybersecurity needs across sectors. Submit your comments Getting It Right - Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities: Three Part Webcast Series for Retirement and Health Plan Sponsors Operating an employee benefit plan can be challenging for small businesses who have limited time, resources, and access to professional help with benefit programs. To help increase awareness and understanding about basic fiduciary responsibilities when operating a retirement or health benefit plan, the Department of Labor is presenting the Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities webcast series. The three part series will help employers and service providers understand how the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) apply to employer-sponsored retirement and health plans and provide information on how to avoid common problems in managing a plan. Register: March 22, 2022 Register: March 24, 2022 Register: March 29, 2022 Join the IRS for a series of online meetings in March (divided by location/states) for small business organizations and owners. The meetings will include: Presentations from IRS leadership covering the top tax issues affecting small business owners regarding income, deductions, employment taxes and recordkeeping How to get ready for the 2022 filing season Tax scams targeting small businesses  How the IRS is reorganizing to better serve small business taxpayers Listening session to hear concerns, feedback and suggestions from participants Learn more   Paycheck Protection Program borrowers: If your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA using our online portal. Follow the steps below. Find out if your lender is participating.  Watch a video about how to use the portal. Apply for forgiveness. For additional information, visit the SBA website.   Thanks to vaccines, small businesses across America have opened back up. Keep the momentum going by getting vaccinated. Find a vaccine provider near you.  Learn more

U.S. Small Business Administration 409 3rd St, SW. Washington DC 20416 www.sba.gov