January was a big month for the small business community throughout the Commonwealth and the United States.? Key initiatives were launched at both the federal and state levels and the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business announced plans to continue pursuing an aggressive agenda that will benefit small businesses throughout Massachusetts.? Regarding this flurry of activity, Rep. Forry said, ?I am pleased to see that as we start the new year elected officials at all levels of our government have continued to make the recovery and well-being of our small businesses a top priority.??
Some of the initiatives announced this month include:
?Committee Holds ?Small Business Coffee Hour? to Kickoff 2012
Last Thursday, January 26th, the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its first ?Small Business Coffee Hour? of 2012.? Hosted by Committee Co-Chairs State Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representative Linda Dorcena Forry, the event provided an opportunity for legislators and staff to come together and discuss the many challenges currently facing small businesses in their communities.? Senator DiDomenico and Representative Forry also provided an update on the status of key small business legislation currently before the House and Senate, as well as the results of their successful 2011 Statewide Small Business Listening Tour.
To learn more about the tour and the legislative priorities of the Joint Committee, please see our brochure.?
?State Launches New Revolving Loan Fund for Fisherman
On January 30th, Governor Deval Patrick announced the creation of the Commercial Fisheries Revolving Loan Fund, which will provide short term loans to owner-operated fishing businesses seeking to lease additional groundfish quotas.? Last year, Massachusetts ground fishermen moved away from a ?Days-at-Sea? system, to a new quota system under which they are allocated individual shares of groundfish stock. This stock in-turn can be traded and sold to other fisherman seeking additional shares.
During the Committee?s 2011 Statewide Small Business Listening Tour, representatives from the fishing industry voiced their frustration with the inability to secure capital to finance the purchase of shares under the new quota system.? ?This is a great first step towards addressing an issue critical to many small fisherman operations in our state.? I look forward to hearing from those same small business owners we met on the tour about the progress of the Governor?s new initiative,? said Representative Forry.?
Additional information on the RLF program is available on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? Division of Marine Fisheries website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries. ?
?President Obama Announces Potential Reorganization of Federal Agencies Offering Assistance to Small Businesses
Earlier this month, President Barack Obama announced the first of several proposals intended to streamline and make the Federal Government more accessible for small businesses.? Under the President?s plan, six federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Export-Import Bank, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, would be consolidated into a single, new agency that would provide assistance to prospective and existing entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking to start, grow or expand their businesses.? The President?s plan also calls for the launch of a new website, www.businessusa.gov, which will serve as a virtual ?one-stop shop? for businesses seeking assistance or information on federal programs and services that assist small businesses.
Additionally, President Obama announced that he has elevated SBA Administrator Karen Mills to Cabinet-level status.? This is the first time since the Clinton Administration that the Administrator of the SBA has held such a position and will ensure that the small business community has a strong voice at the table as the economy moves forward.
?Representative Forry Monitors Progress of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission
On the state level, Representative Forry worked this session to ensure the new State Gaming Commission has the interests of small businesses in mind and that at least two leaders of local chambers or small business groups are included on the Governor?s Gaming Advisory Committee as subcommittee members.? The first members of the Committee are expected to be appointed by Governor Patrick in mid-March, with the small business representatives joining the sub-committee shortly thereafter.? ?I was pleased to have cosponsored an amendment to the gaming legislation in collaboration with Senator DiDomenico, which required the Governor?s Advisory Committee to include representatives from the small business community.? As Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, we plan to closely monitor the appointment process and look forward to learning of the Governor?s selections,? said Representative Forry.? To learn more about the amendments to the gaming legislation, please click here.
Source: http://lindadorcenaforry.org/announcements/januarys-small-business-highlights/
bluebeard blue angels weather miami angus t. jones belgian malinois girl fight jacoby brissett
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.