Recently in the WIPP Press Releases Category

The U.S. Small Business Administration today released a proposed rule aimed at expanding federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSB). The women's business community has been waiting 11 years for an effective program which will help the government meet its 5% contracting goal with women.

According to a press release from the SBA, the proposed rule identifies 83 industries in which WOSBs are under-represented or substantially under-represented in the federal contract marketplace. Additionally, it removes the requirement, set forth in a prior proposed version, that each federal agency certify that it had engaged in discrimination against women-owned small businesses in order for the program to apply to contracting by that agency.

Click here to read the proposed rules, SBA Press Release, and WIPP's response statement. We will review the rule and provide you with a detailed analysis.

The public may submit comments to this proposed rule up until close of business on May 3, 2010, to www.regulations.gov, where they will be posted after 4pm EST today, or by mailing them to Dean Koppel, Assistant Director, Office of Policy and Research, Office of Government Contracting, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd St. SW, Washington, DC 20416. Please reference RIN 3245-AG06 when submitting comments.

Contact Angelin Barrios, WIPP Small Business Policy Analyst, at abarrios@wipp.org with any questions.

In a recent blog on theHill.com Kim Hart reported that "Amazon wants the FCC to let Internet service providers speed up some traffic to consumers as long as other content is not harmed in the process." WIPP has blogged frequently over the past three years on this issue and couldn't agree more.

Job creation is a priority today and unequivocally small businesses are at the core and ready to change the economic landscape in America. They can grow their businesses and they can grow jobs - but only if they are allowed the flexibility, the dependability and the reliability of the internet. No one wants to hurt content or services - but with the excessive and extraordinary demand on the networks with video streaming, the dependability and reliability of the networks are at stake. The service providers must be allowed to manage their networks - and small business owners, who extensively use the internet to manage their businesses, must be allowed to choose a service level that supports their growth.

Click here to read the full story.

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) a national bi-partisan public policy organization with over 500,000 women and minority members, today released their 2009 survey "What Business Women Want". The annual national survey conducted in March 2009, identifies key economic issues affecting WIPP's membership and provides guidance on the importance of policy issues relative to their businesses.

In a letter to SBA Administrator Karen Mills and the bi-partisan Small Business Committee leadership, WIPP President Barbara Kasoff said, "We hope that our annual survey of WIPP members will provide insights into the current economic environment and the issues important to women-owned firms that should be addressed by Congress and the Administration." The top seven issues ranked by survey participants are:   the economy, taxes on small businesses, healthcare, access to capital, energy, procurement and telecommunications.   Legislative and regulatory changes that support a small business-friendly tax code, secure retirement savings and provide access to capital are at the top of the policy issues identified in the survey.

Not surprisingly, concerns about the economy lead as the top issue on the forefront of business owners' concerns. 32% of participants expect to see a reduction in their company's revenues and 18% expect to have additional layoffs.  On a more optimistic note, 72% of respondents do not anticipate downsizing their company as result of the current economic situation.  46% expect their revenues to increase in 2009, a reduction from 67% in 2008.

Two key components of economic concern are tax reform and retirement security. When asked what effect the business tax measures included in the recently passed economic stimulus bill would have on them, 60% believe they will have little to no effect on profitability in 2009. Tax code revisions treating business deductions and credits equally regardless of legal structure are once again supported by almost half of the respondents, consistent with 2008 results. Choosing between reducing the federal deficit and additional tax breaks resulted in a split (36%/40%) result.

In one of the most striking results, 85% of those surveyed indicate their retirement security is of great concern. Two-thirds believe tax credits could stimulate retirement savings, with over half supporting tax incentives to encourage small business owners to secure retirement through lifetime annuities.

In a significant shift from past surveys, only 47% of respondents support Congressional changes to the social security system, a dramatic drop from the 79% in 2008.

Healthcare remains high on the list of important issues on the survey with over 72% indicating they believe comprehensive healthcare reform is necessary. Pooling of small businesses for health insurance purposes, through establishment of a National health exchange, is strongly supported (70%) by small business owners. Once again tax credits for small businesses providing health insurance is endorsed by 64% of respondents.  Other policy initiatives mentioned by WIPP members are the adoption of a standards-based electronic health information system, although fully half of surveyed have privacy concerns with such a system.  Despite the economic challenges faced by small business owners over two-thirds offer their employees healthcare coverage.

In another positive indicator 49% of those surveyed continue to seek outside capital and financing to grow their businesses, principally through bank financing backed by home equity loans, credit cards and family and friends.  SBA loans (15%), angel investors (10%) and SBA the Micro loan program (6%) account for a very small percentage of capital needs of survey respondents. Congressional action to provide tax incentives to stimulate private equity financing was strongly supported by 65%.

Issues related to opportunities through federal procurement contracts indicated no movement in the percentage of federal contactors among women small business owners, despite 46% registering on the CCR.  On a long standing WIPP policy priority, the women owned procurement rule, 60% would like to see Congress rewrite the rule to strengthen the program and avoid the pitfalls in the rule promulgated by the Bush Administration.

For more detailed survey results, please go to www.wipp.org.   Study design and analysis support contributed by AllPoints Research, Inc.