The Small Business Watchdog

On April 19 and 20, I attended the University of Virginia (UVa) Venture Summit, a signature event that brings together innovative researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors. The event explored the idea that startups thrive on the relationships they foster in a robust ecosystem richly endowed with innovative research, access to funding and investors, and the sheer [...]

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The Department of Justice is announcing free webinars that will provide information and technical assistance addressing the accessible pool entry requirements of the revised 2010 ADA Regulations and the 2010 ADA Standards as they relate to existing pools.

The first webinar will be May 2, 2012, from 2:30 – 3:45 EDT, and it will address the [...]

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Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy posts 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.
THIS WEEK
The House and Senate are both [...]

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On April 13, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed to revise the regulations for permits for nonpurposeful take of golden eagles and bald eagles. The term “nonpurposeful,” means it is associated with, but not the purpose of, an activity. FWS proposes to extend the maximum term for programmatic permits to 30 years and charge [...]

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Seems everyone’s clear that getting America back to work is the number one priority. And small businesses are the key to making that happen. Small businesses, the engine of our economy, are continuing to not only create jobs, they also drive growth and fuel innovation. I recently participated in the NYC Business Solutions Industrial and [...]

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Like advocates for veterans everywhere, I was saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend John K. Lopez on Friday.  John was truly the father of the “veteran entrepreneurship community” and I am proud to have known and worked with him going back for many years.  A Korean War veteran, John spent a lifetime [...]

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on April 11 that it is accepting public input on its implementation of the newly enacted Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, Pub. L. No. 112-106. The Act includes provisions that require the SEC to undertake various initiatives, including rulemaking and studies touching on capital formation, crowdfunding, disclosure, [...]

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Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy posts 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.
THIS WEEK
The House and Senate are both [...]

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*The regulations, that is. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has 270 days from the bill signing to write the regulations.
It is common knowledge that innovation and entrepreneurship are critical factors for economic growth. There is even agreement that most innovation occurs in small business and startups, but capital for this critical sector of our [...]

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In March, the Office of Advocacy hosted five roundtables on a range of matters that affect small businesses. Advocacy’s roundtables facilitate dialogue between small businesses and government agencies. These exchanges concerned issues related to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Paperwork Reduction Act, the financial industry, employee benefit plans, and occupational health and safety. The [...]

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