July events at Pueblo West Library

“Your money or your health, for small business.” Tuesday, July 28 @ 6pm.
Holly Hanson, CEO of Health Access Pueblo will speak at Pueblo West Library and answer questions about health care reform, small businesses, and coverage options
Health care reform is on everyone’s mind. Small businesses are feeling an especially hard pinch. Accelerating health-care premiums and sharp revenue shortfalls due to the recession are forcing some small companies to choose between dropping health insurance or laying off workers -- or staying in business at all. Holly will speak about the current federal health care initiatives and address concerns small business owners have with these proposals, and introduce options for coverage that are affordable and manageable.

Holly has been an independent insurance agent for over 10 years and worked for managed health care companies for another 10. She has been on the Legislative Committee for the National Association of Health Underwriters, and as the CEO of Health Access Pueblo she works with small employers on a daily basis on health care coverage benefits and management.

For more information about these events, contact Cindy Shimizu 719-562-5667, cindy.shimizu@pueblolibrary.org

Get Money Smart

Some economists think the economy might show signs of significant recovery as soon as June, but it's going to take some time for people's finances to recover. Budgets, savings, and a healthy credit report are all topics of great interest these days. In light of this, The R.M. Watts Center and Pueblo Bank & Trust are presenting a series of Money Smart classes at Pueblo West Library over three consecutive Tuesday evenings in June.

• To Your Credit on June 9th at 6pm will cover credit reports, the purpose, how it is used, order and read a copy, and identify ways to build and repair credit history.
• Money Matters on June 16th at 6pm will focus on daily spending habits, preparing a personal spending plan or budget, and identify ways to decrease spending and increase income.
• Pay Yourself First on June 23rd at 6pm will explore saving, why it is important, identifying savings goals and options, and determine the best options to reach goals.

To register for one or more class, call 719-562-5667 or email Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org or stop by Pueblo West Library.

Event reminder 5/19 @ 6:30pm: Bill Tandy of Pueblo Bank & Trust

A discussion about the U.S. economy by Bill Tandy, President, Pueblo Bank & Trust. Free and open to the public

National Small Business Week begins May 17th

The nation's top entrepreneurs will be hailed at the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Small Business Week events May 17-19, in Washington, D.C., marking the 56th anniversary of the agency, and the 46th annual proclamation of National Small Business Week. More than 100 small business owners from across the country will gather for three days of events to be honored for their accomplishments as the nation's leading small businesses. The highlight of events will be the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year. Men and women also will be recognized their involvement in disaster recovery, government contracting, and their support for small businesses. Awards also will be presented to SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development, including SCORE Chapter, Small Business Development Center and Women's Business Center of the year.

Events will be Webcast on May 18th & 19th. For more information go to http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/

The economy and you - a presentation by Bill Tandy, President of Pueblo Bank & Trust

The R. M. Watts Vocational and Business Center of the Pueblo City-County Library District is hosting its inaugural event on Tuesday May 19th at 6:30 p.m. at Pueblo West Library, 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd. Pueblo Bank and Trust President Bill Tandy, who recently gained national attention for rejecting federal bailout funding, will present on the current economic state and its impact on small businesses and individuals. This event is free and open to the public. Please call 562-5667 for more information.

First in a Three-Part Series: Trust and the 21st Century Workplace

The increased flexibility and productivity enabled by today's virtual office tools benefit employees and businesses alike. Unfortunately, many managers still find it difficult to trust that their employees will achieve results when working outside the company's bricks and mortar. The challenge, then, is how do you build an organization of trust?

Join this live BNET Webcast to hear Stephen M. R. Covey, author of The Speed of Trust, demonstrate trust as an economic driver and share tips on how to profoundly impact the level of trust in your relationships, your team and your organization.

Attendees will learn:

• The business and economic case for trust
• Why trust is the critical leadership competency in this new global economy
• How to become a more effective leader and build an organization of trust

Registration required.

SBA Expands Eligibility for 7(a) LoansTo Spur Recovery Opportunities for Small Businesses

More small businesses will be eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration-backed loans, meaning greater access to much-needed capitalin this tough economy, as a result of a temporary alternate size standard for the agency's largest lending program. SBA’s alternate size standard for its 7(a) loan program will go into effect early next week through Sept. 30, 2010. As a result of the temporary change, more than 70,000 additional small businesses – including auto and RV dealerships, auto industry suppliers and others – could be eligible to apply for SBA 7(a)loan.

The temporary 7(a) loan size standard will parallel the standard for the agency’s 504 Certified Development Company loan, and will allow businesses to qualify based on net worth and average income. The net worth for the company and its affiliates can’t be in excess of $8.5 million and average net income after federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) for the preceding two completed fiscal years can’t be more than $3 million.

The temporary change to the 7(a) loan size standard is not unprecedented. SBA took similar actions in 1993, as a result of the recession of the early 1990s, and again in 2005 as part of a program aimed at helping small businesses in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This change also means more small businesses can take advantage of benefits made possible through the Recovery Act. On March 16, the SBA implemented two key provisions of the Recovery Act that raised the guarantee on 7(a) loans to 90 percent and reduced fees for borrowers. Since then, the agency has seen average weekly 7(a) loan volume increase by more than 25 percent and new SBA loans made by nearly 450 lenders who had not made loans since October 2008. For more information about SBA’s revisions to its small business size standards,visit http://mail.pueblolibrary.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sba.gov/size/indexwhatsnew.html and click on “What’s New about Small Business Size Standards.”