Invitation to Participate in #SBAChat – How to Start a Business, February 18th

As part of National Entrepreneurship Week, @SBAgov will host a Twitter chat that will last about 45 minutes – 1 hour. If your organization would like to participate, please RSVP to Paul.Lester@sba.gov with your organizational handle by February 11th to be included in our promotional efforts and to receive the chat questions. If you are going to use a personal Twitter handle, please also let us know your organizational handle so we can say “@Steve from @SBAgov” in our promotions. A sample promo blurb is below and a shareable image is attached. Questions will be shared ahead of time with organizations that RSVP.

America’s SBDC Semi-Annual Membership Meeting, February 7-13th

The semi-annual SBDC membership meeting will be taking place in Washington, D.C. this February. SBDC leadership will come together for a day long meeting as will the America’s SBDC Board of Directors. Attendees will also kick off the America’s SBDC 40th Anniversary at the Annual Client Showcase happening February 11th on Capital Hill. To learn more about the client showcase, click here. Click here to access the 2020 Impact Brochure, Hill Visit Form, and legislative resources.

America’s #SBDCDay March 18th

SBDC Day is a national, collective proclamation of the success and impact America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) have across the nation in economic development and the small businesses community. To learn more or to access the ever-growing SBDC Day promotional toolkit, click here.

America’s SBDC 40th Annual Conference, Sept. 29th – Oct. 2nd

The 40th Anniversary America’s SBDC Conference will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, at the beautiful Atlanta Marriott Marquis. This year’s theme, “Think Big. Start Small” starts with the big ideas that float around the heads of would-be entreperenuers at night as they try and fall asleep. The persistent itch they feel to get out and do something on their own. The innovative approach they take to do or make something better. The courage to walk into their local SBDC to get the assistance they need to turn that dream into a reality, a small business. To learn more about the conference or Atlanta, click here.

The call for papers/presentations will be closing February 15th. Tell your colleagues, friends, partners and clients, we’re looking for workshop content for our 40th Anniversary conference! To learn more or submit now, click here.

We are now accepting 2020 State Star nominations! SBDC lead centers please contact marketing@americassbdc.org to access the submission form. The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 26th.

• Idaho Construction and Excavation Business Grows With Help From The SBDC
• Central Virginia SBDC moves to new spot with new host CIC
• Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE Assists in Launching Artstream Studio
• Register for the SBDC of UW-Green Bay Entrepreneurial Training Program
• Wyoming SBDC Business Tips for Jan. 13-19
• Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIU Supports Unwrap You with Coach Melody
• Women’s Entrepreneurial Conference grant named in honor of former Brigham City SBDC Director Wendy English
• Aromatherapy breathes new life into business ideas in Boise, Idaho
• SBDC Offers Workshop on How to Start a Business in Hawai‘i
• MBA Student Creates Digital Platform to Facilitate Recycling for Stony Brook SBDC Pitch Competition
• Florida Small Business Development Center Helps Tampa Bay Business Owners Thrive
• Belknap Economic Development Council and Small Business Development Center celebrate partnership
• SBDC supports Tiny’s Party Rental opening in Edwardsville
• Wyoming Business Tips for the week of Dec. 23-29
• These 5 Myths Cause Small Businesses to Fail
• Idaho SBDC Helps Idaho Falls Dance Studio to Grow
• California SBDC consultant says now is the perfect time to conduct effective strategic planning

National Conferences

• Association of University Research Parks Spring Training – February 24-28, 2020, Tempe AZ
• ICBA Live – March 8-12, 2020, Orlando, FL
• APTAC – March 9–12, 2020, Chicago, IL
• NASBITE – March 26-27, 2020, Annapolis, MD
• InBIA – March 29 – April 1, 2020, Boston, MA
• ExIm Annual Conference – April, 2-3, 2020, Washington, DC
• National Community Reinvestment Coalition – April 27-29, 2020, Washington, DC
• AEO National Conference – May 4-7, 2020, Houston, TX
• National Main Street Conference – May 18-20, 2020, Dallas, TX
• ESOP National Conference – May 20-22, 2020, Washington, DC
• NAWBO – September 21-23, Austin, TX
• IEDC – October 11-14, 2020, Dallas, TX
• SSTI – October 5-7, 2020, Little Rock, AR
• Opportunity Finance Network Conference – November 9-12, 2020, Los Angeles, CA
• USASBE – January, 2021, Location TBA

SBA Lenders Conferences
• 2020 America West Roadshow – February 6-7, Denver, CO; March 4-6, Salt Lake City, UT
• Southeastern Small Business Lenders Conference – March 18-20, Asheville NC
• Mid America Lenders Conference – April 20-22, League City, TX
• America East Small Business Lenders Conference – August 14 – 16, Mashantucket, CT

Resources & News

SBA SBDC State Director Calls

SBA has issued the dates for the monthly SBDC Director Calls in 2020. The calls are at 3:00 ET/2:00 CT/1:00 MT/12:00 PT/11:00 AK/10:00 HT and the phone number is the same for all calls. Please make plans to join them. Call Number – 202-765-1264 Conference ID -1177564
– February 27
– March 26
– April 23
– May 28
– June 25
– July 23
– August 27
– September 24
– October 22

FDIC Small Business Lending Survey

The FDIC recently released a report on the results of a survey it conducted on lending to small businesses. Approximately 1,200 banks, both large and small, responded to the survey. FDIC undertook this survey to understand how the current consolidation trends effect small business lending and to learn about differences in lending practices by banks of different sizes.

Leadership and Professional Development Opportunities

2020 Core SBDC Leadership Professional Development Programs

Each year, America’s SBDC offers professional development for SBDC network leadership in four recurring areas: State Director Roundtables at the Annual Conference, Accreditation Training, Orientation to Managing an SBDC Network, and New SBDC Network Leaders Peer Exchange. Please note: There will not be an Orientation at the Annual Conference.

Click here for a list of National Conferences

SBDC Network Director Roundtables

SBDC Network Directors Only
– America’s SBDC Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 29 – October 2, 2020

Managing an SBDC: Orientation for New SBDC Network Leadership

New SBDC Network Directors and any other SBDC staff with the approval of the SBDC Network Director
– February 12-13, 2020 – Crystal City, VA; in conjunction with the semi-annual Membership Meeting
– June 22-23, 2020 (tentative) – Denver, CO; in conjunction with the America’s SBDC Board Meeting

New SBDC Network Director Peer Exchange

New SBDC Network Directors only, who have between 2 – 14 months of experience as SBDC Network Director. Participation is by invitation.
– November 2020 – Ohio

Accreditation – Standards

SBDC Network Directors, Associate SBDC Network Directors and SBDC staff in networks preparing for an accreditation review
– February 2020 – in conjunction with the semi-annual Membership Meeting
– September 2020 – in conjunction with the Annual Conference

Accreditation – Process and Best Practices

SBDC Network Directors, Associate SBDC Network Directors and SBDC staff in networks preparing for an accreditation review
– February 2020 – in conjunction with the semi-annual Membership Meeting
– September 2020 – in conjunction with the Annual Conference

SBDC Network LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE

New SBDC Network Directors who attend the Orientation to Managing an SBDC Network, the New SBDC Network Director Peer Exchange, a minimum of two SBDC Network Director Roundtables, and engage with a mentor, will receive an SBDC Network Leadership Certificate.

Funding Opportunities

• Support for Staff Professional Development Opportunities for East Coast SBDCs
• Disaster Preparedness Efforts Funded
• USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program
• USDA Agriculture Innovation Center Program
• EDA Accelerate R2 Network Challenge
• ARC POWER
• EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
• EDA Disaster Resiliency

Amazon Academy

Amazon is hosting a series of webinars designed for small business owners and their employees to hear best practices for successful selling in Amazon store. Each webinar will include an interactive Q&A session. Learn more here.

Media Opportunity for SBDCs

Nav Education Director Gerri Detweiler will be writing an SBDC Day story for her AllBusiness column which syndicates to Forbes and to the Nav blog. You can see previous examples where she quoted SBDC advisors here and here.

This year’s story will feature small businesses that started small and went big. The idea is to showcase small businesses that started very small but have grown significantly, whether in revenues, # of employees, or even customers served.

If you have clients who you think are a good fit for this PR opportunity, please ask them to fill out this form. (Gerri will include the Center and advisor who helped them as well.) If you have questions, Gerri’s email is gerri@nav.com.

The deadline to submit is February 21st.

2020 National Small Business Exporter Summit

NASBITE International invites all SBDCs to attend the 2020 National Small Business Exporter Summit, March 25, 2020, in Annapolis, MD. The NASBITE Annual Conference draws educators, exporters, specialists, and students from all across North America. The Conference offers a variety of education and networking opportunities and seeks to recognize outstanding and innovative developments in the area of international trade education, counseling, training and research. Learn more here.

How to Buy and Sell a Business, Grow Big and Cash Out

For the Insights Report: According to BizBuySell’s 2019 Insight Report, 9,746 small businesses changed hands in 2019, down 5 percent from 2018’s record-setting 10,312. Yet Q4 2019 outperformed Q4 2018 by 2.3 percent. Learn what small business owners and brokers have to say about what’s influencing recent market activity. View infographic.

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• Committee and Special Interest Group Info
• Meeting Minutes
• Marketing Resources
• Best Practices
• Member-Only Event Info
• Specialized Offers
• Training Materials
• and more!

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