I attended a briefing for small business advocates at the White House last week and wanted to share the resources I received from that meeting.

White House Office of Public Engagement

• Office of Public Engagement Updates: Subscribe

White House –Fact Sheets, Blogs, and Guidebooks

• Investing in America Agenda Updates: Investing In America | The White House and State Fact Sheets: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
• National Small Business Week Fact Sheet
• Three Years of the American Rescue Plan: The American Rescue Plan (ARP): Top Highlights from 3 Years of Recovery | The White House
• Climate Capital Guidebook        

Small Business Administration Resources

SBA and its network of partners offer free or low-cost counseling, training, and information sharing on the tools you need to start or grow your business. Find your local SBA District Office or Resource Partner here, and please do not hesitate to be in touch to learn more about SBA resources available for small business owners and entrepreneurs, including:

• Digital Investing in America Small Business Hub: Visit the Hub for details on how your small business might access Investing in America grants, contracts, rebates, and other opportunities. Information includes free guides and resource overviews, examples of small businesses that have accessed funding; links to valuable SBA resources, such as business loans and free business counseling to help you pursue opportunities.
• Capital Access: Access to various lending resources and information for small business owners.
  • Start by researching our flagship business loan programs to determine which SBA-guaranteed loan program is best for your business.
  • Get matched to potential lender funding with competitive rates and fees through the Lender Match Program.
  • A new SBA rule removes restrictions on SBA loan programs that currently prevent many returning citizens from being eligible for SBA-backed loans to start or grow a business. You can find the details of this announcement here.
• Government Contracting and Business Development: SBA provides several programs to help small businesses win federal contracts. The federal government uses special programs to help small businesses win at least at 23% of all federal contracting dollars each year. 
  • The Empower to Grow Program provides individualized coaching and training to help disadvantaged small businesses and others grow with government contracts.
• Entrepreneurial Development: Access a network of programs and services that support the training and counseling needs of small business, including:
  • Small Business Development Centers
  • SCORE
  • The Association of Women’s Business Centers
  • T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined
  • SBA Cyber Tools and Resources
• Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R) is to connect individuals, homeowners and renters, small businesses, and private non-profits with SBA disaster assistance programs and improve disaster recovery outcomes and economic resilience by helping communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against disasters of all types.
  • Rapid Declaration
  • SBA Implemented Law Enhancing Ability to Declare Disasters and Deliver Support to Rural Communities
  • Increased Loan Amounts for Homeowners and Renters
  • 12-month deferral of first payment with zero (0%) interest accrual
  • Expanded Mitigation Eligibility

Sondra