One topic that many of our listeners want to learn more about is doing business with government agencies. Adrienne Callahan, Small Business Specialist and DBE Program Manager for Region 5 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, joined MBEConnect for a podcast episode. In it, she discusses how to do business with the EPA and outlines several resources available to diverse businesses.

The following resources are discussed in this episode of the podcast:

Listen to this episode of the podcast through the streaming player below, or download it for free through iTunes.

The fund will provide lines of credit up to 30 percent of the contract amount to companies for each project. The program would provide $200 million in bonds over the next five years, officials said. Two surety bond companies, Travelers and ACE, have already agreed to participate in the new program. Over the next few years, the program is estimated to create 2,200 jobs and estimated to increase personal income by $137 million and overall economic output by $328 million.

New York has experienced significant growth in the amount of M/WBEs operating in the state in recent years, thanks in part to programs like this and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent Bonding Guarantee Assistance Program, which provided $10 million to help MWBEs secure credit. Cuomo also included an extra $1.6 million in additional funding for M/WBEs operating funds.

Additional information about the New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program and other programs available to M/WBEs in the state of New York is available at the Empire State Development website.

Their findings indicate that top concerns of small business owners in 2011 were attracting new customers, the cost of health insurance, rising taxes, and retaining customers. Other findings suggest that there is increasing optimism among small business owners, who do not expect revenue and profits to decline. Read the entire 11-page report online for free for more information on Visa’s findings.

The Small Business Review is just one way that Visa shows its commitment to small businesses. Visa also has a partnership with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is designed to help Hispanic-owned businesses attract new sales and secure their future. This initiative provides HBEs with business development tools, including customized access to Visa’s suite of small business solutions and educational resources such as the Visa Business Network (VBN).

If you have a news item that you would like to see included in the next installment of the Weekly News Recap, please leave a link in the comments, or send us a link via Facebook or Twitter.

According to reports from the Commerce Department, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) will close all five of its regional offices in an effort to cut operating costs. The MBDA offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and New York will close by September 30, while the San Francisco office will close in March of 2013. Staff from these offices will be reassigned to Washington or offered early-retirement and buyout incentives. The move is expected to save the agency about $1.5 million, or about 5% of its annual budget.

Several members of Congress present at a meeting last week expressed displeasure with this decision and voiced concerns about the already challenging state of minority business and contracting. “It sends the wrong message to entrepreneurs and businesses in our community at this time when we need to have an expansion,” Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) said. Rush added that he has had a great working relationship with the regional office in Chicago.

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) expressed a common sentiment regarding the effectiveness of a single office in Washington. “My regional office is in Atlanta. To just have a hub in Washington that services the whole country will not be an efficient use of that office,” he said.

Minority Business Development Centers, which are operated through short-term grants from the MBDA and operated by select non-profit organizations, will continue to operate across the country.

Read more about this story at Federal Times and at Politic365.

A new report supported by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, ACCION USA, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates that more than 90% of immigrant entrepreneurs have received no assistance from the New York city government to start or maintain their business. Half of those surveyed aren’t even aware of the over one dozen business programs provided by the city. Many of the outreach programs are administered online and through its network of Small Business Solution Centers, but these resources do not reach these entrepreneurs statistically. Immigrant business owners indicate that they most need assistance in the following areas: financing, marketing, and legal assistance.

Meanwhile, 87% of immigrant-owned business in New York city don’t even have a business website. On average, about half of all small businesses have a website.

Some advocates want to see more direct outreach, that is economic development staff, going into neighborhoods and discussing the available programs with business owners. This can help the businesses not only stay afloat, but grow, expand and add jobs.

What is the best way to inform immigrant business entrepreneurs, and other small business owners, about the assistance programs available to them?

Read more about this report at the New York Daily News.

Guy Brown was featured in the OfficeMax Special Edition of MBEConnect Profiles magazine and is a certified minority-owned office product and supply company in Brentwood, Tennessee. Products offered by Guy Brown currently include office supplies, re-engineered printer supplies, Managed Print Services, promotional merchandise and office furniture. Read their complete interactive profile here.

In anticipation of the 15th Annual Summit and Salute Event, WBENC has announced its annual list of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises. This is the only national award that honors corporations for their commitment to doing business with WBEs and their efforts to level the playing field for these businesses. Here is the complete list of all 29 corporations selected this year:

Congratulations to all of the companies that have received this prestigious honor. A special congratulations is extended to Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU Corp.), UPS, and AT&T , which have  been recognized by WBENC every year since the inaugural award was created 13 years ago. The America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises Award presentation will take place at the Landmark Theater in Baltimore, MD on Thursday, March 22, 2012 as part of the 15th Annual WBENC Summit and Salute conference.

Again, congratulations to all of these dedicated corporations. Learn more information about this award in the official statement by WBENC, or read last year’s list in MBEConnect Profiles magazine.

“Mr. Davis, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, brings with him over 20 years of vast national business experience, which includes small business management and operations, corporate consulting, tribal government relations, non-profit operations and working with federal agencies and programs,” NCAIED Board Chairwoman Margo Gray Proctor said in announcing Davis’ new role. “We are confident that he will add tremendously to our organization.”

Davis’ experience in facilitating Native-to-Native business opportunities will continue in his work with NCAIED, committed to American Indian self-sufficiency by leading economic development and promoting commerce in Indian Country. This announcement comes just before the the 26th Annual RES event, which begins on February 27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Read more about this announcement at Indian Country Today Media Network or the official Media Release issued by NCAIED.

If you have a news item that you would like to see included in the next installment of the Weekly News Recap, please leave a link in the comments, or send us a link via Facebook or Twitter.