U.S. SBA to celebrate 50th anniversary in September

The U.S. Small Business Administration works to ensure the success of small businesses across the nation. At the national, regional and local levels the SBA works to stimulate small business through loan programs, advocacy, technical assistance and counseling.

SBA usually sets aside National Small Business Week to acknowledge the success of businesses it has assisted and provide networking opportunities and training for these businesses.

This year SBA will hold its Small Business Week the third week of September. The week, traditionally in the spring, has been moved to celebrate SBA's 50th anniversary.

"One of the major events is the National Entrepreneurial Conference and Expo or NECE, which will take the place of the traditional Small Business Week," said SBA press secretary Joseph Pally. "It will still bring together small business and honor the winners from each state and select the small business of the year. However, it is a component of a much larger activity this year."

The NECE will be held Sept. 17-19 during Small Business Week. "A number of big events are being planned celebrating both what we have done over the last 50 years and what small business and entrepreneurship have done for America. We will also be planning events focusing on the future of small business."

Local events

In the Springfield area, small business week is a collaborative effort on the part of SBA, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and University Outreach and Extension. Local events take place May 5-10.

There will be educational seminars on topics such as understanding financial statements, QuickBooks, how to write a business plan and networking events. Another significant event will be the W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the year award hosted by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce at the University Plaza Convention Center.

The week's events will conclude on Saturday afternoon, with the Service Corps Of Retired Executives' workshop at the Library Center at 4653 S. Campbell Ave.

"The SCORE workshop targets new start-ups, but existing business owners may attend as well. The volunteers are mostly retired business people from the community who take the time to pass along their knowledge and expertise to people who are just getting started in business and don't know where to turn," said Janice Bowman, economic development specialist at Springfield's SBA branch office.

Dennis Jones is chairperson of the Springfield chapter of SCORE and one of 44 area counselors. Jones is a retired professional who has worked for a number of large corporations and has been in business for himself.

"I think having experience in a wide variety of business situations gives a broad education. I have purchased and sold a number of business and that is the area in SCORE in which I like to specialize," Jones said.

Jones believes that each of the 44 area SCORE counselors bring valuable experience to the program.

"Each person brings their own background, we try to match counseling cases to people with a particular expertise," said Jones.

Jones said the one-day seminar offered during small business week will " cover a wide range of topics important to people who want to start their own business, and since we are a volunteer organization if they want further counseling they can come to us for as many or as few sessions as they like, free of charge," Jones said.

Bowman hopes this week's local events will not only draw awareness to SBA programs, but showcase local businesses as well.

"When it's time to acknowledge a good job done we do it," said Bowman. "Small Business Week is the time to acknowledge southwest Missouri small business and the contributions they make to the economy."

The local SBA will hold its SBA/Rural Missouri Inc. Kickoff Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. May 5 at the Heritage Cafeteria. 1364 E. Battlefield Road.

"We acknowledge our top producing lenders for the previous year, and also give awards to any Small Business Week winners that we have," Bowman said.

Gregory Taylor, vocational rehabilitation and employment officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis, will be honored as the Region VII Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year.