South Florida District Office – January 2023

S. Florida Newsletter – January 2023

Message from our District Director J. Malcom Richards

NEW YEAR … NEW YOU… NEW BUSINESS …!

Happy New Year! Congratulations: We made it through one of the worst seasons for mankind. Throughout the pandemic, we learned that so many business owners were financially unprepared to withstand the halt and the prolonged recovery of the economy. They didn’t have the basic business infrastructure in place that would give them to access to the billions of dollars SBA made available through various pandemic relief options. Part of the joy of each New Year celebration is the opportunity to consider the possibilities, to “start over” and unlock potential.

Our theme for 2023 is: New Year. New You. New Business!

Our efforts in the new year will center on financial literacy, and small business preparation and readiness for accessing capital and the federal government marketplace. SBA government contracting certifications, our webinar series “Getting Financially FIT 2023”, and our T.H.R.I.V.E. program are designed to help you discover and implement those best practices to effectively lead your company, leverage resources, and generate new business opportunities in 2023 and beyond. South Florida is a beautiful mix of people from all walks of life and our commitment is to ensuring underserved communities are included in the realization of the American Dream of business ownership and success. So, let us now look forward with great anticipation and expectation. Join us this new year and grow into the new you and get ready for new business!

The SBA is implementing its new Veteran Small Business Certification Program and will begin accepting applications in early January 2023 to ensure veteran and service-disabled veteran business owners have better access to the federal marketplace. SBA certifications allow small businesses to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Check out the details about SBA’s multiple certifications and position yourself for New Business in 2023!

Would you like to turn the corner towards to new business growth and strength in the new year? A mentor can help because mentors guide toward success. January is National Mentoring Month and SCORE, SBA’s Resource Partner, is a national network of 10,000 volunteers and 250 chapters that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Find a high-quality, no-cost SCORE mentor near you today and get on track for new business success in 2023.

The SBA’s #SBIR and #STTR programs are one of the largest sources of support and early-stage capital for high-growth potential companies that help them bring useful technologies to market for mass, public consumption in the United States. Get the details at SBIR.gov.

COVID EIDL Repayment Webinar

Wednesday, January 11th at 11am

SBA made nearly 390,000 Covid EIDL Loans valued at almost $30B to small businesses located in South Florida.

If you received a Covid EIDL loan, it’s time to start paying it back. Do you have questions on how to make your payments or who to contact with servicing concerns?

Join SBA’s South Florida District Office for a virtual workshop where we will provide borrowers with important information, details, and tips about the loan repayment process.

Learn how to:

Create, access, and monitor your COVID EIDL account on SBA’s Capital Access Financial System (CAFS).
Utilize the PAY.GOV accounting system to set up and make payments
Identify your Loan Servicing Center

REGISTER HERE

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is widely regarded as an American Hero for his non-violent advocacy for the legal equality of African-Americans and was just beginning his campaign against poverty when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Since that day, his legacy has inspired and spawned many other equity movements including our efforts at SBA to ensure underserved communities have the same access to our programs and services that help entrepreneurs realize the American Dream of business ownership. The MLK Holiday is a national call to service answering Dr. King’s enduring question: “What are you doing for others?” Learn more about ways you can participate in furthering Dr. King’s legacy through service at MLK Day | AmeriCorps.

Tuesday, January 17th at 11am

Among the first steps to starting a business is organizing and registering it with federal and state governments. Each business formation type has legal and tax implications business owners must consider before making the choice to start an LLC, sole proprietor, partnership or other corporation.

The more you know BEFORE starting the business, the better your chances of selecting the best option for your particular situation. This webinar is an introduction to some of the tax issues associated with starting a business and is for new entrepreneurs who need a primer on business formation.

REGISTER

In the New Year, commit yourself to securing your financial well-being and your business by taking action to learn about common cybersecurity threats, assessing your risk, and implementing best practices that will protect and strengthen your business for years to come. Get cybersecurity tips for your #smallbiz here.