Celebrating Women’s History Month

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

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.

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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

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.

1. Find out if your lender is participating.
2. Watch a video about how to use the portal.
3. 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.

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