Unleashing Ideas: Global Entrepreneurship Week October 26, 2009 -- From November 16 - 22, 2009, Global Entrepreneurship Week will connect young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and more will participate in a range of activities--from online to face-to-face, and from large-scale competitions to intimate networking events.
Through this initiative, Oklahoma's next generation of entrepreneurs will be inspired. In doing so, they will begin to acquire the knowledge, skills and networks needed to grow innovative, sustainable enterprises that have a positive impact on their lives, their families and their communities.
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 Global E-Ship Week Events in OKC-Norman Area
 Global E-Ship Week Events Statewide
SBA Launches New Online Training Course: Winning Federal Contracts – A Guide for Women EntrepreneursOctober 14, 2009 -- Women who own small businesses will be able to use a new online U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) training course to learn how to identify and take advantage of federal contracting opportunities. The new training course, Winning Federal Contracts: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs, is part of an ongoing government-wide initiative to promote opportunities for women-owned businesses in the area of government contracting.
This free online tutorial is a practical and easy to use guide that walks a woman-owned small business through the contracting process. SBA is committed to ensuring that women-owned businesses receive at least 5 percent of federal contracts and believes better training opportunities are central to meeting this government-wide goal. Little Dixie Community Action Agency Receives $75,000 Grant for EntrepreneursOctober 2, 2009 – The Little Dixie Community Action Agency of southeastern Oklahoma received a $75,000 grant for funding under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act (PRIME) to assist low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs with training and technical assistance to start, operate, and grow their businesses.
Little Dixie was one of 58 non-profit organizations from 32 states and the District of Columbia to receive the funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Larry Mocha Named Oklahoma’s Small Business Champion September 15, 2009 -- Larry Mocha, President of APSCO Inc. of Tulsa, has been named the Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion of Oklahoma by the National Federation of Independent Business, according to the Tulsa World.
"Year after year, Larry has proven his commitment to NFIB and small business, not just in Tulsa but throughout Oklahoma," Benny Vanatta, State Director of NFIB/Oklahoma tells the Tulsa World. SBA Administrator Announces Availability of H1N1 Preparedness Guide for Small BusinessesSeptember 14, 2009 -- Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano have announced the availability of a preparedness guide designed to assist small businesses in planning for the possibility of an H1N1 flu outbreak this fall.
During a call with reporters Mills made clear the importance of flu preparedness for small businesses. Broken Arrow Firm Named Sub-Contractor of the YearAugust 31, 2009 -- Broken Arrow-based Mechanical Air Systems Inc. was recently named "Sub-Contractor of the Year" during Oklahoma Minority Enterprise Development Week, reports the Tulsa World.
The award was presented by the Native American Business Enterprise Center, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Inc. Cherokee Data Solutions Earns Honors as Top Tech FirmAugust 31, 2009 -- Cherokee Data Solutions was recently honored as the regional Minority Technology Firm of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce, according to the Tulsa World.
The company sells technology and office products to federal, state, local and tribal governments and educational institutions. The company has also joined the EPEAT Partner Reseller Program to provide customers with up-to-date, detailed information on environmentally preferable products, and compliance or justification support for green IT purchasing decisions, according to the World. DOE Announces $37 Million for Small Business Research and TechnologyFunding Emphasizes Investment in Clean Energy Technologies and Job Creation
August 28, 2009 -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced that $37 million in funding from the Recovery Act will be made available to qualified small businesses through the Department's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This funding announcement emphasizes the Department's commitment to developing near-term, clean energy technologies while allowing small businesses take part in the new industrial revolution that the sustainable energy economy will bring.
"Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean energy economy," says Secretary Chu. "By helping small businesses bring clean technologies to market, we can create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce carbon pollution." |
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Service Provider Database
 Break-Even Sales Analysis Tool Every business owner should know how much revenue is needed to pay all business costs and leave a fair profit return. Profit is determined by the company's cost structure and sales volume over the course of one year. This tool figures how much business you'll need to conduct to turn a profit.
How Price Changes Impact Profit How much business can you lose from price increases and still meet gross profit goals? This tool calculates that as well as how much gross profit will be left after you've paid for the goods and services needed to operate.
Building the Case for Rural Entrepreneurship From the Rural Policy Research Institute
Entrepreneur Self Test From the Rural Policy Research Institute The Oklahoma Entrepreneur's Conference 2009
The Oklahoma Entrepreneur's Conference brought together those interested in starting or growing a business and the service providers that can help them.
Click here to learn more about what was covered at the conference, including interviews with several of the speakers. Business ResourcesMashable Social Media Guide lists the top 10 social networks for entrepreneurs. Each helps entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with the guidance, tools and resources they need to setup their company and gain exposure.
Entrepreneurship.org is one-stop shopping for entrepreneurs. Current topics range from a tutorial on the basic principles of equity funding and dilution to IdeaCrossing, a free online resource that helps entrepreneurs identify sources of human and financial capital.
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Family-Owned Business Institute helps family businesses succeed and grow from generation to generation by offering programs and services that address their unique needs.
United States Postal Service (USPS) - the USPS has Small Business Specialists that can help you find cost-effective shippers for international and domestic mailings, design your next direct-mail piece, organize and maintain your customer mailing lists, provide customized postage, and more. All services are free. Contact: Marva Courtney, Small Business Specialist, USPS Oklahoma District, marva.courtney@usps.gov, 405-553-6122.
Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits offers a no-cost/low-cost training program designed to promote transparency and efficiency in nonprofit organizations.
Oklahoma Career & Technology Education (CareerTech)
Women's Business Center (REI)
Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma (REI)
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Occupational Licensing Handbook
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Trade Talk, a free online publication to help small businesses pursue international trade opportunities. To sign up, visit www.ustr.gov and click on "Receive USTR e-mail updates" on the right side of the home page. Rob Garibay: Entrepreneurial Coaching(Reprinted with Permission from Rob Garibay and the Norman Transcript)
 Rob Garibay is a licensed business coach. In a series of articles, Garibay gives a quick tour of the entrepreneur ladder as well as offering business tips for successful entrepreneurs.
Rob Garibay: Entrepreneurial Coaching Online Videos for EntrepreneursDelivering Success, an online video-on-demand resource of successful entrepreneurs, is a nationwide cosponsorship with the U.S. SBA and the Postal Service to provide small business owners with invaluable information through video interviews that are both accessible and convenient for entrepreneurs. The Delivering Success video interviews, online at www.sba.gov/deliveringsuccess, chronicle the experiences of successful entrepreneurs from around the country, offering guidance and sharing insight on the road to success. The video interviews provide key information on the ingredients of small business success, including an overview of business basics, resources to help with business plan development, small business friendly financing, business promotion, and planning & research.
One-Stop Shop for Federal FormsBusiness.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, provides federal form searches so visitors may quickly find and download U.S. federal tax forms and guides.The Business.gov site saves businesses time and money in locating the forms and guidance they need as well as searching the government for compliance resources. Failure to comply with employer tax requirements and reporting may result in fines, legal action, or business closure. |
