The Small Business Watchdog

            Minority Enterprise Development Week 2009 was a great opportunity to celebrate “Energizing the American Economy with Minority Business Enterprises.” I attended a panel on Thursday morning, August 27 (following an excellent keynote address by Earvin “Magic” Johnson) that featured, as moderator, Derek Dingle, Editor in Chief of Black Enterprise magazine; Aubyn Thomas, Senior Vice [...]

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            Interested in the relationship between gender and the finances accessed by entrepreneurial firms, or venture capital and the commercialization of technology?  How about business angels, minority entrepreneurship, rural innovators, entrepreneurship in urban areas, veteran business owners, or the cost of regulation?  Perhaps you need to know more about entrepreneurial creativity, firm or job creation, [...]

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            Last week, Massachusetts state regulators responded to complaints from small businesses and stakeholder groups by issuing revised regulations aimed at preventing identity theft by computer hackers.  Small business supporters opposed the original version of the rule, which was released last year.  They included Advocacy’s former Region I Advocate, Steve Adams, who expressed concern that [...]

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            On August 13, Advocacy submitted comments supporting EPA’s December 2008 final rule, which would allow exclusion of certain hazardous materials from the hazardous waste requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  This regulatory relief has been sought by the small business community for over 20 years.  This issue was among the top [...]

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Additional Research Contracting Opportunity 
The Office of Advocacy’s mission includes providing research documenting the status of small businesses and the impact of important trends on them.  Section 105 of Public Law 110-385 requires the Office of Advocacy to conduct a study to evaluate the impact of broadband speed and price on small businesses.  The study must also include [...]

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Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.
Small Business Economic Issues in New [...]

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            The Department of Homeland Security needs small business leaders to help determine priorities for the next four years.  DHS is conducting a series of web-based, interactive dialogues around the following focus areas:

Smart and Tough Enforcement of Immigration Laws
Securing Our Borders
Preparing for, Responding to, and Recovering from Disasters
Counterterrorism and Domestic Security Management
Homeland Security National Risk [...]

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Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.
Monday, August 3, 2009
 3:00 pm    Hearing
Senate [...]

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