Recently in the WIPP Category

For many business owners, the challenge to their public policy education is not a lack of interest but of time.  Given the breadth and complexity of the available information, it's difficult for anyone to sort through the latest legislation, much less a busy entrepreneur. But Laurie Simon, CEO of Ombrella Inc, found the answers she needed through a not-so-surprising resource: a network of other business owners.

Laurie founded her IT and business consulting firm in 2004 and quickly became active in organizations that could help her build her business. Through her networking, she was referred to Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). "I've always been very passionate about business policies, especially how they affect women and minority business owners," she told me. "And I found that WIPP aligned with my values. They take a bipartisan approach to getting the right policies in place to support business owners."

Among benefits of her WIPP involvement Laurie outlined were:

• Streamlined information on government policies. WIPP distills new policies down to the top points of how they are going to affect small business.

• Advocacy on behalf of small business. "WIPP is a watchdog on bills affecting small business, but we also proactively advocate for new policies and make sure our proposals are communicated to the right people." 

• Networking and opportunities. "Any time I've had any kind of business challenge, I've been able to leverage the women I've met through WIPP. Everyone is open to making connections and learning more about each other's businesses and supporting and making referrals."

• Access to decision makers. "The level of influence among the membership has helped me open quite a few doors. I now have other business leaders asking me for my opinion on new bills."

Today, Laurie sits on both the WIPP Communications Committee and the committee for their Give Me 5 program, focused on helping women business owners obtain their share of the $500 billion in government contracting.  "There is a government goal that 5% of that should go to women-owned businesses," Laurie said. Currently, we're only getting 3.4%. The Give Me 5 program was started to bring awareness to both women business owners and policymakers to help reach that goal - and beyond." Launched as a partnership between WIPP and American Express OPEN, the Give Me 5 program has educated 200,000 women on federal contracting opportunities and increased the number of women-owned businesses registered on the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) - a requirement for obtaining government contracts - by 36%.

A strong proponent for small businesses going after government contracts, Laurie is currently completing a mentoring program led by Lourdes Martin-Rosa, American Express OPEN's advisor on government contracting, that coaches a select number of women business owners on to help her get on the GSA Schedule.  (GSA stands for the General Services Administration, the independent agency that centralizes procurement for the federal government.)  

"I've learned a lot of the ins and outs of the process, especially in how we position ourselves and to look for opportunities sooner rather than the later. It's also opened my eyes to different teaming opportunities. We're now positioning ourselves for teaming with larger contractors, and I can't wait to get my first contract."

If you are interested in learning more about government contracting opportunities, I invite you to visit OPEN for Government Contracts: Victory in Procurement (VIP) for Small Business, a program American Express OPEN has launched with WIPP, Business Matchmaking, and SCORE.  You can also learn more by listening to this podcast "NAME" and by visiting www.giveme5.org for upcoming webinars, events and policy news. 

For more information on Laurie or Ombrella Consulting, visit www.ombrellausa.com.

For more information on WIPP, visit www.wipp.org and read this article by my colleague Marcy Shinder, "Partnering for Growth: Women-Owned Businesses as the 5th Largest GDP in World."

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is inviting submissions from the public on how to become more transparent, participatory, and collaborative.

Deadline to submit comments is now through March 19, 2010.

The public's feedback and ideas are key in assisting SBA's plan.

Click here to submit your comments.

Any questions can be directed to opengov@sba.gov.

Click here to read the complete news story on WIPP's website.

2010 National Business Week is May 23-25 in Washington, DC.

I just read a new analysis of job gains and losses from the SBA Office of Advocacy that indicates small businesses created some 65 percent of the net new jobs in the private sector over a recent 15-year period. Although many of the new jobs are in new business startups, even more are in expanding firms - most especially mid-sized firms with 20-499 employees.

New startups and continuous high-growth firms were found to play an essential role in the labor market - allowing for an environment to create a large share of jobs.

Click here to read the complete article. Click here to visit WIPP's Economy policy page and learn more about our recent activities.

For more information and a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.

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.

What are YOU doing on March 4, 2010 at 7:30pm? I already know what my plans are. I will be attending a viewing of Half the Sky LIVE, presented by WIPP Coalition Partner CARE. CARE is planning on bringing together thousands of people in theatres across the country to celebrate, learn and take action to empower women and girls in the fight against poverty in 2010.

Half the Sky LIVE is inspired by the best-selling book from Pulitzer prize winning journalists and will celebrate International Women's Day with musical performances, celebrity commentary, and the world premiere of a powerful film directed by Academy Award Winner Marisa Tomei.

This is a one-night-event only! Visit www.halftheskylive.com to watch the film trailer, find your local theatre and purchase tickets.