Celebrate National Small Business Week With Small Business Resources

Home based business owners can sometimes feel isolated. So it’s good to know someone is batting for small business owners. National Small Business week 2008 runs from April 21 – April 25.

Since 1963, every President has declared National Small Business Week to formally recognize the important role of America’s small business community.

Even if you can’t get together with other business owners for National Small Business Week events in your area, The National Small Business Week site lists some useful resources for small business.

Small Business Resources

SBA’s Small Business Training Network
A virtual campus housing free training courses, workshops and knowledge resources available 24/7. http://www.sba.gov/training/

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/aboutus.html

SCORE

A nationwide network of small business counselors offering free email advice.
http://www.score.org

Women’s Business Centers

Represent a national network of nearly 100 educational centers providing business assistance, counseling, mentoring including home based businesses. http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_program_office/sba_pr_wbc_ed.pdf

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC)

Advisory council and policy recommendations to the President, Congress and the SBA on economic issues of importance to women business owners.
http://www.nwbc.gov

Youth Entrepreneurship

Introduces young entrepreneurs to the concept of small business ownership.
http://www.sba.gov/teens

U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs)

Provide export information and development assistance to small businesses.
http://www.sba.gov/oit/export/useac.html

White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov

Small Business Administration

http://www.sba.gov

The Government’s Small Business Web Portal

http://www.business.gov

The Government’s Official Web Portal

http://www.usa.gov

U.S. Department of Energy

http://www.energy.gov

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.hhs.gov

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.dhs.gov

U.S. Internal Revenue Service

http://www.irs.gov

International Trade Administration

http://www.trade.gov

U.S. Department of Commerce

http://www.commerce.gov

U.S. Department of Labor

http://www.dol.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov

LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES

Take SBA’s free online course: Business Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SBA offers numerous financial assistance programs to help small firms raise capital. http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/index.html.