Small Business

Women-owned small businesses will have greater access to federal contracting opportunities as a result of changes included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (NDAA) to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program.

The National Small Business Association is currently seeking active and involved small business owners for the 2013 Lewis A. Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. The award honors small-business owners who go above and beyond in advocating for the small-business community.

With small business lending opportunities tight because of the reluctance of many financial institutions to qualify businesses for loans, Intuit is looking at ways it could work with small businesses and lenders to help provide better financial strength assessments, which could help with the qualification process.

FedEx has announced the winners of its first national Small Business Grant Competition. The winner: Darn Good Yarn, a small business based in Sebec, Maine. Its founder, Nicole Snow, will receive a $25,000 grant to invest in and further grow the business.

The state's inheritance tax can leave heirs scrambling to cover a tax bill. And many end up selling the business or taking out costly loans.

The El Paso District office of the U.S. Small Business Administration will present a workshop on the "ABC's of Financing Your Small Business."

Less than six months after attending Pittsburgh Startup Weekend, Traci and Joe Lipple have a new marriage and a new business plan for turning their joint venture from an idea to an app.

Financial relief is available from the Small Business Administration for non-farm businesses in 77 Oklahoma counties and neighboring states to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, announced Alfred E. Judd, director of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West.