Tag: Small Business

DOE Announces $72 Million For Small Business Research and Development Grants

sarah JonasAnnouncement

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $72 million in funding for small businesses to pursue scientific, clean energy, and climate research, development, and demonstration projects. The funding will support 296 projects across 44 states and addresses multiple topic areas, such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, cybersecurity, advanced materials and manufacturing, microelectronics, and artificial intelligence. Today’s announcement underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s deep commitment to advancing innovative climate solutions and strengthening America’s global scientific leadership, which are critical to achieving the President’s goal of a carbon-free grid by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Gen Z Shoppers Likely Driving Some Small Business Shopping Trends

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

While the numbers aren’t in just yet on how many people supported small businesses over the holiday weekend, a pre-holiday survey from Bankrate predicted more consumers were planning to shop on Small Business Saturday than on Black Friday. If you would…

Will ERC Equal PPP In Terms of Fraud?

sarah JonasFeature Expert

With the IRS warning about “ERC mills” – third parties improperly advising businesses to claim the employee retention credit, UMD’s Sam Handwerger explains Congress’ shifting guidelines, “less-than-scrupulous consultants” and a newly bolstered IRS as “a perfect storm” for exposure of ERC fraud.

Social Capital is a Key Driver of Small Business: New Study

sarah JonasResearch Results

Why do small businesses exploit business opportunities better in some areas than others? Maryland Smith researchers show that local social capital (trust, cooperation level among residents) strongly predicts loan uptake after controlling for close-by bank branches, income and education.

UA Little Rock, ASBTDC Introduce Online Training to Keep Small Businesses Cyber Safe

sarah JonasAnnouncement

New “Cyber Safe” training from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center equips businesses to recognize and thwart cyber threats. ASBTDC collaborated with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Cyber Arena to create the Cyber Safe: Cybersecurity for Small Business online training course. The free, on-demand course is broken into short modules covering cybersecurity basics, such as access control, passwords, physical security, and network protection.

Thunderbird at ASU continues helping Afghan businesswomen as Taliban takes over Afghanistan

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

Thunderbird School of Global Management, a unit of Arizona State University, began supporting Afghan women’s economic empowerment in 2005, after the fall of the Taliban, through a program called Project Artemis. As an international business school, our team is working…

NIST Awards $2.99M to Commercialize DHS S&T-Developed Interoperable Public Safety Communications System

sarah JonasAnnouncement

NIST awarded $2,988,950 in a new round of funding for new interoperable communication systems for public safety through its SBIR program, Catalyst Communications Technologies of Forest, Virginia, was provided this Phase III award for commercialization of its interoperable communications solution.

2nd annual “Doing Business” report ranks North American cities by ease of doing business

sarah JonasResearch Results

The Center for the Study of Economic Liberty at ASU has released the second edition of its signature Doing Business North America report, which provides objective measures of business regulations across 130 cities in 92 states, provinces and districts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center receives $125,000 grant to provide services for high-tech entrepreneurs

sarah JonasAnnouncement

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $125,000 grant to assist companies pursuing federal Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer grants and contracts.

Study: Why U.S. Black Entrepreneurship Lags & How Banks Can Help Fix It

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

A steady stream of media reports detailing the deaths of unarmed Black Americans at the hands of police. False 911 calls aimed at bringing harm to African Americans engaged in innocuous, everyday activities. Street protests calling for an end to discrimination and police brutality.  As racial tensions swirled this summer, so did calls on social media for those who support the social justice movement for African American civil rights to amplify Black voices and support Black businesses.

ACI Launches “Healthy Returns”: New Toolkit Contains Important Cleaning, Hygiene Reminders for Reopened Businesses and Offices

sarah JonasFeature

As communities across the nation begin the reopening process stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) announced the roll-out of Healthy Returns, a free online toolkit for small businesses and offices containing concise, easy to understand reminders on hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting that are crucial to keeping the workplace healthy and safe.

Oyster Farming and Shorebirds Likely Can Coexist

sarah JonasResearch Results

Oyster farming as currently practiced along the Delaware Bayshore does not significantly impact four shorebirds, including the federally threatened red knot, which migrates thousands of miles from Chile annually, according to a Rutgers-led study. The findings, published in the journal Ecosphere, likely apply to other areas around the country including the West Coast and Gulf Coast, where oyster aquaculture is expanding, according to Rutgers experts who say the study can play a key role in identifying and resolving potential conflict between the oyster aquaculture industry and red knot conservation groups.

Even $2 trillion may not be enough: Scholars weigh in on stimulus package, unemployment benefits, small business & industry loans, & individual checks

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

The $2 trillion plan to prop up a pandemic-reeling United States, amid the news that there were 3.3 million unemployment claims lodged in the previous week, is expected to pass the House on March 27.Is it a Band-Aid or sufficient to heal what ails America’s economy?“We do not have this (COVID-19 outbreak) under control, and until we do, even $2 trillion may not be a big enough bailout,” said Anne Marie Knott, the Robert and Barbara Frick Professor of Business at Washington University in St.

Small Business Saturday has a real impact on your local economy, expert says

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

With ecommerce and access to national chains, small businesses can be forgotten during the holiday shopping season. By shopping small on Small Business Saturday, you can make a real impact on your local community, according to Rochelle Layman, regional director of Binghamton University’s…