How Can I Get Stimulated?

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!

Comments

[Guitarsandmore]

I would think your tarket market consists of high school administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, students, parents, as tier one.

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.

[Guitarsandmore]

Go here:

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

[957]

Take a Viagra thats the only way your going to feel any "stimilus" of of the pork barrel bill,, besides small business taxes are going up big time in a couple years, so things will not get better for the small business world any time soon.

[KillTheMessenger]

Apply Wise? I went to your web site because I wanted to know what you are doing. And it struck me like lightning. This looked so wrong.

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.

[jimrs6]

Give it up. You weren't one of the special interest groups in the room writing the bill, so you can't count on dollar one of this "stimulous".

[dadw5boys]

AS A businness owner you should know that this Economic Problem comes along every 15 to 20 years and we seal with it.

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..

[cylindar]

OK, first things first. Why are you talking about the SBA? They are the most useless organization to would be small business owners and small business owners. I do not know of any serious business person (including myself) that does not snicker when the name SBA comes up. If you really want to sound like a dolt at a party, mention SBA and watch everyone walk away from you like you are really stupid. Well in fact they have good reason to walk away from you. That being said If I were you I would put away my belief in the tooth fairy and really realize that you will not see any money.

[Henry]

You should contact Paul Bremer, you know the U.S. Military governor of Iraq. He has confessed to handing out $12 billion of shrink-wrapped 100s in black brief cases. He did not keep track of to whom.... he may still have one or two left and if you are an entreauprener in need of an injection he just might be the voo-ddoo type of supply-side fixer who could provide it to you and so-to speak spread the wealth.

[oustfan]

What kind of investment does your company need? It seems like your product is already developed. Good luck with your business.

[DesertFlame]

Are you kidding? Then what type of investments do the banks need or the automakers. Aren't their products already developed?