Archives For Minority Business

SBA launching BusinessIQ Express for disadvantaged businesses

Emily Kimball —  March 21, 2013
BusinessIQ Express

Disadvantaged businesses could benefit from an online cash flow management tool.

The U.S. Small Business Association is launching an online cash flow management tool for disadvantaged American businesses, the SBA announced Wednesday.

BusinessIQ Express was formed through a partnership between the SBA and Experian, a leading global information services provider.

The program assists small business owners with the following tasks:

  • evaluating prospective customers’ and suppliers’ ability to pay
  • monitoring business relationships with alerts and notifications of key changes
  • collecting outstanding debts and avoiding future losses

In order to qualify to use the tool, businesses must be small disadvantaged firms in SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program or certified in SBA’s Historically Underutilized Business Zone program. These businesses are generally owned by women, minorities, those with disabilities, or are located in designated geographic areas.

A webinar on using BusinessIQ Express is planned between 2 pm and 3 pm on April 2. Find registration information here.

 

Maryland wind farms could benefit minority businesses, colleges

Emily Kimball —  March 21, 2013

The recently passed Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act, which will likely result in a wind farm near Ocean City, provides $10 million to assist minority firms in gaining contracts. It also paves the way for clean energy programs at historically black colleges, the Baltimore Business Journal reports.

According to the article:

The funding will help businesses gear up to handle a variety of work related to the wind farm, including manufacturing components for wind turbines, transporting freight and providing engineering and other professional services, said [Vernon] Wade, CEO of Wade Enterprises Inc., an information technology company based in Ft. Washington …

The legislation also includes the creation of a Clean Energy Program Task Force to recommend whether Morgan State University, Coppin State University, Bowie State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore should establish programs that would grant a degree or certificate in clean energy.

Find the BBJ’s complete report here.