SBA Update
Small Business Regulations to Be Reformed—Small businesses will benefit from the reform of 30 regulations and guidance documents that are high-priority, according to the Office Of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Reforms of the rules offer the potential to reduce unjustified regulatory burdens on small businesses. Regulations and guidance documents identified as high priority by the Office of Advocacy ranged from certificates of medical necessity to rules on "commercial mail receiving agencies" (private mailboxes) issued by the postal services.

For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.

Credit Unions to Participate in Lending—    As many as 1,500 of America's more than 10,000 credit unions are likely to join the SBA’s network of lenders, which represents a potential increase of 30 percent in the overall number of storefronts where entrepreneurs can seek capital for their business.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov.

$500,000 Loan Cap Lifted—SBA Administrator Hector Barreto has lifted a five-month cap on SBA-backed loans and invited participating lenders to resume submitting applications for guaranteed loans up to the $2 million statutory limit.

The decision to lift the loan cap is effective immediately.

Online Employee ID Application Launched—The SBA has launched a new Internet-based system that will allow small business owners to register their business at the state level and receive their Federal Employer Identification Number. The new application can be found at http://businesslaw.gov/template.cfm?catid=10044. Click on Integrated State Register & Federal EIN Application.

Program Seeks More Members—The SBA’s Office of Advocacy, in partnership with EPA, invites small businesses to participate in the EPA's National Performance Track Program. The program provides recognition and incentives to top environmental performers.

It is open to facilities of all types, sizes and complexity; public or private; manufacturing or service-oriented. Benefits of participation include a reduced likelihood of EPA inspections, reduced regulatory transaction costs, increased access to EPA officials, and recognition of networking opportunities. Facilities are chosen based on their systematic approach to environmental management, commitment to continuous improvement, sound compliance history, and willingness to reach out to the community.

To assist small business that might be interested in joining the Performance Track Program, the EPA has relaxed the admission requirements for facilities with fewer than 50 employees. Applications are being accepted until April 30, 2003. Additional information, including application materials, can be found at www.epa.gov/performancetrack or by calling 1-888-339-PTRK.

Financial Mentoring Program Available
The Missouri Women’s Business Center has announced a new financial mentoring program that links entrepreneurs with financial executives who serve as mentors for one year.

The program teaches entrepreneurs how to review the business on an ongoing basis and to identify opportunities and potential pitfalls before they impact the company’ bottom line.

Call (816) 235-6146 for more information.

Report Examines Women Business Owners, Corporate Markets

While women's business enterprises are earning a significant percentage of their revenues from Fortune 1000 corporations, a new study finds that these firms only capture an average of four percent of the billions spent annually on outside goods and services.

The Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) commissioned the study with the Women Entrepreneurs' Connection at FleetBoston Financial and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Center for Women's Business Research conducted the study.

Fifty-six percent of the revenues of women's business enterprises with $1 million or more in sales came from large corporations, and 40 percent of the revenues of companies with revenues below $1 million. To read a summary of the report, visit www.womensbusinessresearch.org/Research/2-4-2003/2-4-2003.htm.

Regulations.gov Makes Filing Comments Easier
A new federal government Web site has been launched to facilitate public input in the regulatory process. The site, www.regulations.gov, is the U.S. government Web site where anyone can find, review and submit comments on federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register.

ATHENA PowerLink Recruiting Women Entrepreneurs
ATHENA PowerLink is recruiting women business owners for its next class. Participants in the program are linked with a network of business advisors selected just for their business to help them meet their business goals.

To be eligible, applicants must own the majority of the company and actively manage it, be in business at least two years, employ at least two full-time persons (one may be the business owner), have minimum annual revenues of $250,000 for manufacturing or retail businesses or $100,000 for service businesses.

Applications are available by phoning Entrepreneurial Growth Resource Center, (816) 235-6075; Kansas Women’s Business Center, (913) 492-5922; or the Missouri Women’s Business Center, (816) 235-6142. There is a $25 non-refundable fee to apply. Applications are due April 17, 2003.