Recently in the Small Business Category

President Barak Obama announced a new plan that would reform the way government agancies work for small businesses and announced a move to elevate the position of SBA Administrator to a cabinet-level position. The plan will consolidate the various departments focused on business, commerce and trade to a single, streamlined department.

WIPP strongly supports this effort and released a statement applauding the President's plan.

This reform should help make the government work better for small businesses by consolidating the efforts fo such agencies as the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Commerce Department, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Trade and Development Agency into a one-stop shop for business needs.

The plan, which will require Congressional approval, also aims to rpovide a more accessable, more efficient resource for small business owners. SBA Administrator Karen Mills pointed out that the small business arm of this consolidated department would provide a greater range of programs and opportunites for small businesses and assured that small business interests would be at the core of this new department. WIPP has strongly advocated on behalf of its members for reduced regualtions and simplified resources for small business owners and fully supports this major step in that direction.

WIPP also applauds the Presidents' related move to elevate the position of SBA Administrator to a cabinet-level position. WIPP is pleased to see the President's recognition of the vital role that small businesses play in growing jobs and growing the economy and looks forward to seeing the additional progress that the elevation of the SBA can bring to the small business community. With this move, small businesses will have a stronger voice to advocate for change on the policies and issues that affect them. During this time of economic recovery, it is more important than ever that small business has a seat at the policy-making table.

Click here to read the complete message from President Barack Obama.

When a small business thrives, a community thrives.  "From the mom-and-pop storefront shops that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our Nation's promise."  President Barack Obama. 

The White House and the Administration have demonstrated extraordinary support for Small Business Saturday.   Karen Mills, SBA Administrator, and SBA have been leading the charge, and we expect several other Cabinet secretaries to participate in events throughout the country on Saturday.  Some highlights:  Valerie Jarrett is going to participate in the Chicago event and Karen Mills in Boston as well as many US and State elected officials and Mayors throughout the country.  

The White House also  just posted a blog post from Karen Mills on the White House web site with more details, so check out the link by clicking here: White House Blog Article on Small Business Saturday 

And don't forget to check out Small Business Saturday on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #SmallBizSat

Things are really popping - tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are less than 3 days from Small Business Saturday.   The country has come alive with preparations for Thanksgiving; families and friends are gathering and everywhere you turn there is an air of joy and festivity.  

WIPP members across the country have rallied in support of our small businesses for their strength is our strength.  We know that wherever there are thriving small businesses, you will find a thriving community.  

The Board of Directors of WIPP, and its team in Washington DC and San Francisco wish to thank you for all of your efforts year long.    Your advocacy and passion is demonstrated every single day; your commitment to collaboration and support of one another is outstanding.    You are a role model for our country - for it is only when we rally together that we will experience positive change.   

With best wishes for health and happiness,

Barbara

PS - I thought you might like to see this blog posted on the White House Blog today:

Support Your Local Businesses on "Small Business Saturday"
Posted by Karen Mills at
 
You've heard of Black Friday. And Cyber Monday. But did you know that this Saturday is Small Business Saturday? We're encouraging everyone to visit a small business to do some holiday shopping this Saturday.
As President Obama said in a message out to all Small Business Saturday supporters:

From the mom-and-pop storefront shops that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our Nation's promise.  These businesses create two out of every three new jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities across our country and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the American dream.  Through events such as Small Business Saturday, we keep our local economies strong and help maintain an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century.

When you walk down Main Street in any city in America, you can often find great restaurants, service providers, and handcrafted, Made-in-America products from local shops. It's wonderful to simply go in and visit with local business owners and hear what's happening in the community.
 
There are many people in my life that appreciate a unique gift from a local business, like the blueberry jam I pick up at the Farmers' Market in my hometown of Brunswick, Maine. This Saturday, I'm planning to go back to that market early in the morning, and then I will travel to Roslindale, Massachusetts, to celebrate Small Business Saturday with Boston Mayor Tom Menino. Many other top-level officials throughout the Administration are also "shopping small" this Saturday.
Everyone knows that your dollar goes a long way at when you buy a product or service from a small business. That money goes right back into the local economy. And that's important, because half of working Americans either own or work for a small business, and small businesses create two out of every three new jobs.
 
It's great to find the perfect gift from a small business. Often, when you carry it to the counter, you can see the business owner's eyes light up. They tell a story about how that gift was made. Or where it came from.  Or how it's a one-of-a-kind.  And the gift immediately becomes even more meaningful and special. Moments like that are what makes the holidays magical.
 
In addition to our support for Small Business Saturday, the SBA is working hard to make sure even more small businesses can keep growing. For example, we had an all-time record for SBA loans this year, with over $30 billion in lending support that helped about 60,000 small businesses buy a new building, get more equipment, or hire more workers. And, right now, the President is calling on Congress to cut in half the payroll taxes for small businesses as part of the American Jobs Act.
 
Let's all do our part to support America's small businesses as they continue to strengthen our economy and create jobs. Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Small Business Saturday, and Happy Holidays.
 

More than 150 leading women business owners from Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) gathered at the Annual Leadership Conference to celebrate the recipients of this year's prestigious WIPP 2011 Awards. Mary Schnack, President of Mary Schnack and Associates based in Silver Spring, Md., was the recipient of this year's WIPP President's Award for her leadership in elevating the voice of women business owners in the national public policy arena.

"Mary has been part of WIPP from its very beginning and has always been there to navigate national communications strategies as WIPP has grown to become the largest united voice for women business owners.  She is truly the spirit and voice of our membership," said WIPP President Barbara Kasoff.

Schnack is an award-winning writer, reporter, public relations professional and advocate. Mary Schnack and Associates represents sophisticated organizations from corporations and small businesses to government agencies and associations and non-profit organizations.

Schnack also delivers speeches and conducts communication trainings worldwide, including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Argentina, Ukraine, Switzerland - just to name a few. Her topics offer communication and entrepreneurial tips that can be put to immediate use. By using examples from her personal experiences in such places as Waco, Rwanda, Russia and Los Angeles, Schnack offers real world perspective and not just textbook examples from other people's work.

The WIPP Awards Ceremony was part of WIPP's three-day Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, that ran from October 11th - 13th. The conference agenda included important economic briefings on current policy issues impacting women business owners growth, a high-level briefing by The White House, a Congressional Luncheon and the exciting unveiling of WIPP's updated Economic Blueprint used as the organization's call to action to the Administration, Congress and Federal Agencies.

WIPP is a national nonpartisan public policy organization, advocating on behalf of nearly 1 million women-owned businesses representing 59 business organizations. For more information, please visit www.wipp.org

Guest post written by Elise Mitchell of Mitchell Communications:

Empowering women is smart business.  A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of representing WIPP at Walmart's milestone announcement of its Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative. It was an amazing day -- from the speakers, to the excitement of the announcement details, to the hundreds of supporters in attendance representing non-governmental organizations (NGOs), women's business and industry associations like WIPP, philanthropic groups and academia.

Here's why the Empowering Women initiative is something we should all take note of.  Simply put, Walmart is helping women live better by using its global size and scale to empower women across its supply chain.  The company has five bold goals it intends to accomplish by 2016.

1.   Increase sourcing from women-owned businesses. Walmart will source $20 billion from women-owned businesses in the U.S. and double sourcing from women suppliers internationally.

2.   Empower women through job training and education. Successful retail training programs will be scaled to help 200,000 women internationally. In the U.S., Walmart will help 200,000 women from low-income households gain job skills and access higher education.

3.   Increase gender diversity among major suppliers. The company will work with major professional service firms and merchandise suppliers with over $1 billion in sales to increase women and minority representation on Walmart accounts.

4.   Empower women on farms and in factories through training, market access and career opportunities. New programs will help 60,000 women working in factories that supply products to Walmart and other retailers develop the skills they need to become more active decision-makers in their jobs and for their families.

5.   Make significant philanthropic giving toward women's economic empowerment. The company will support these programs with more than $100 million in grants that drive progress against key goals.

Empowering women is good for the workplace and for the economy. Ninety million women will join the global workforce by 2019, and savvy companies want to win the war for talent by attracting and retaining the best and brightest. Women also control $20 trillion of annual consumer spending globally.

Most importantly for WIPP members, this initiative means many of us will have the opportunity to benefit from $20 billion in increased sourcing to women-owned businesses in the U.S.  I can speak from personal experience because Walmart has been a client of our firm for 13 years.  They are an exceptional business partner, and I encourage WIPP members everywhere to learn more about what the Empowering Women Initiative could mean to them:

·         Find more information online at: www.walmartstores.com/women

·         You can join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag: #EmpowerWomen

Finally, WIPP members will have a chance to hear from Sarah Thorn, Walmart's senior director for federal government relations, at our conference this week.  Sarah was instrumental in making Empowering Women a reality, and I know she will have valuable insights to share with us about how each of us can leverage this impactful initiative for our own businesses and for women everywhere.