The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim ruling on Monday that will adjust monetary based small business size standards for inflation, to allow more small businesses to become eligible for SBA’s financial and federal government procurement assistance programs. These changes mean that adjustments on inflation for figures such as receipts, assets, net worth and income could now play a factor in determining program eligibility.

The SBA is adjusting all of the industry specific monetary based size standards to adjust for inflation since the last adjustment in 2008.  These changes are in addition to the recent modifications made to the small business size standards as a result of the SBA’s all-inclusive size-standards review, mandated by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

The SBA is adjusting its program specific monetary size standards, with the exception of the new alternative size standard based on tangible net worth and net income that applies to the SBA’s 7(a) and 504 loan programs.  The new standard was implemented under the Small Business Jobs Act, and will remain in place until the SBA establishes a permanent alternative size standard for its programs.

The temporary final rule also establishes that the size standard exception for “Leasing of Building Space to Federal Government by Owners” under footnote 9 in the SBA’s table of size standards applies to all industries in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Industry Group 5311, Lessors of Real Estate.

All of the changes are scheduled to go into effect starting July 14, 2014.  The SBA predicts that at least 8,000 additional businesses will gain small business status under the adjusted size standards, and become eligible for SBA’s financial and federal government procurement programs.  These changes in SBA policy could potentially lead to more than $150 million to $200 million in additional federal contracts awarded to small businesses, and 80 additional loans totaling about $30 million.

The Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA) is a non-profit business trade association that promotes and assists Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and responsible for job generation. That is why VAMBOA provides its members with Business Coaching, Contracting Opportunities, a Blog that provides information, Networking contacts and other resources. Membership is FREE to Veterans. Join Now!

VAMBOA: SBA Amends Policy: By Debbie Gregory

Veterans Small Business Forum

‘Overcoming Barriers to Becoming a Successful Veteran Entrepreneur in the Federal Marketplace’

Tuesday, June 10, 2014
1 pm – 3 pm

hosted by

The Small Business Administration (SBA)
Office of Veterans Small Business Development
409 3rd Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20416

(All are Welcomed – You Must Register to Attend)

You Must Register to Attend Click Here to Reserve Your Seat!

If Participating by Phone

use the number and code below

(805) 399-1200

Code 877589#

(Call lines will open up at 945 am)

Please be mindful to mute your phone using *6 when listening then you may press *6 again to unmute when you are speaking.

Thank You!

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is teaming up with Yelp to present a free, in-person event to help Georgia small business owners engage with online reviewers and manage their online reputation.  The event will take place on Wednesday, more about April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kennesaw State University SBDC, KSU Center – Suite 400, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw GA 30144.  (Phone: 770.423.6450)

Media interested in attending should email mark.gibson@sba.gov to register.

Small business owners can register for the event at: http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=GA

The 90 minute event will include:

• An overview of how small businesses can join the conversations that are happening about their businesses online
• Panel discussion featuring best practices for getting started with online review sites with perspectives from business owners and reviewers
• Tips on how to handle critical feedback and respond to reviews
• Ways to generate more buzz by creating exciting promotions and monitoring customer leads.
• Informal networking with light refreshments

For more information about the SBA and Yelp partnership, visit:  www.sba.gov/onlinereviews.

WHAT:          “Success With Online Reviews”

WHEN:          Wednesday, April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE:       Kennesaw State University SBDC, KSU Center – Suite 500,

                        3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw GA 30144. 

                        (Phone: 770.423.6450)

HOW:             Registration is free, but limited to availability.  http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=GA