I'm a small business owner. It's a women-owned, education technology business. I've heard that the stimulus package has a lot of money going towards education, a lot of money to promote new uses of technology and a lot of money to support small business. Well, here I am!! But, am I ever going to see a piece of the $787 billion? If so, when? How long will it take to trickle down to small business owners?
The SBA just sent a news release out today: "The SBA Applauds Stimulus Bill, Planning Underway For Broadest, Quickest Small Business Impact. " There's supposedly money in the plan for loan fee reductions, higher guarantees, brand new SBA programs and enhancements to existing SBA programs that are going to help unlock credit markets and begin economic recovery for the nation's small business sector.
The Acting SBA Administrator Darryl K. Hairston, said:
"The tax incentives and credit stimulus elements of the Recovery Act will truly help small business owners affected by the credit crunch, and will provide financing opportunities to help them create new jobs in their communities."But then he also said:
"There's a lot to digest in the legislation, and SBA has established teams to tackle a wide variety of policy decisions, system modifications, regulatory changes, legal requirements, and new program launches authorized by the President and Congress."Which sounds like it means that it's going to take a while to figure out exactly what this means and how I can get my hands on this money.
The front page of the New York Times two days ago talked about how much money Arne Duncan has to spend on education. So, I called some friends in Washington who I thought would have some ideas. They told me that I can hire a lobbyist or maybe try to get a meeting with my Senator, but that process could take a long time to actually see any results and there are no guarantees. How many entrepreneurs can afford to hire a lobbyist or have access to their Senator?
I'm a small business owner who needs to get stimulated NOW. Potential new investors have put their plans on hold, customers are not spending as much as they used to. We've made cuts to make sure that we can weather the storm and I'm optimistic that we'll get through it, but it sure would be nice to figure out how to get my share of stimulation!
Your Tier two target market could be universities and libraries.
and then I would target groups like Rotary International:
http://www.rotary.org/EN/ABOUTUS/Pages/ridefault.aspx
Also call on local groups. Every community has local volunteer groups who like to help kids go to college, you know like " the moose club, the elk club, local veterans organizations.
Last you have trade shows all over the place that give potential clients an opportunity to see your product without the pressure of buying it. They just show up to window shop and tryout products. it gets your company name out. Try to pick the right trade shows and i wouldn't do more than one or two a year.
Also, see if you can get your product reviewed by Consumer's Report and similar trade, education magazines/ online communities, but if you do that make SURE they are going to give you a good review.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-12-stimulus-plan-breakdown_N.htm
and see if you fit into any of those categories.
Next talk to your lawyer. If you are in business you should not turn around without talking to your lawyer and your accountant.
Best Regards,
G&M
When I went to university, I wrote exactly one letter. They sent me an application form back. I filled it out and sent it in. A couple weeks later they replied that I was admitted and that I could pick up the necessary papers at the university office. From there on it was up to me to figure out what classes I had to go to in order to get my diploma four years later. My chances of being turned down were zero. But I did have to sit in classes twice the size of a normal year, though. And that was OK. I still learned what physics was.
The German system simply makes it easy for students who are willing to do the hard work that it takes to get a professional degree to get the required education. As it should. That's what all countries should do.
And that is the point. We don' t need to help the students to manage an impossible maze set up by attorneys, MBAs and administrators. We need to tear the maze down.
The bailout of the Savings and Loan Industry cast more than this bail out.
The bail out of South America cost more than this.
Even the bailout of Russia and Eroupe cost more than this.
Cit bank even has oil takers setting off shore creating an oil glut. Or you would be paying $5.00 a gal for gas..