This is a post from the Memphis Business Journal.

Legislation passed this year by the Tennessee General Assembly will create a “small business advocate” in state government to help business owners cut through the red tape — but few resources will be devoted to the post during a lean budget year.

Senate Bill 3484 — sponsored by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a Republican gubernatorial candidate — unanimously cleared the state House and Senate and has been sent to Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen. The legislation requires the Comptroller of the Treasury to appoint a small business advocate from existing staff to answer questions and provide information to business owners. Additionally, each state department that has regulatory authority over businesses will be required to appoint a liaison to the small business advocate
Read more: Tennessee small businesses to get state government advocate – Memphis Business Journal

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May 23-25, 2010, Washington, DC

National Small Business Week 2010 will begin with three days of events in Washington, D.C., where outstanding business owners from across the country will be recognized. In addition to the State Small Business Persons of the Year, individuals involved in disaster recovery, government procurement, small business champions, as well as SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development will be honored.

Highlights of the event this year include: the Keynote speech by SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

Click Here for a schedule of events.

SBA Lenders for Memphis area

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Discount online retailer Overstock.com announced a new initiative aimed at small businesses. According to Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, “The Main Street Revolution Initiative is designed to increase the visibility of small and minority-owned businesses which currently lack exposure to national markets. By joining our network these small businesses can reduce their supply chain costs, and opens their products to a mass audience. This represents a grand opportunity for producers and consumers nationwide to participate and contribute to the national recovery effort. Main Street can be the engine that lifts us out of the recession that Wall Street created.”

Join the revolution at www.overstock.com/mainstreet.

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Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection Community Affairs Branch 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) 

Creating Financial Literacy, LLC 

Division of Financial Integrity, Office of Federal Assistance Management 

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) 

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Interim Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford rolled out a report Thursday that sets a 20 percent goal along with a campaign to raise awareness among small businesses that they can get a piece of the county’s business.

“It could be janitorial supplies. It could be printing. It could be medical supplies. It could be computer supplies,” Ford said. “It’s everything you see in county government.”

Shelby County Government through its Purchasing Department believes that a successful community is one where all levels of society and business are given equal opportunity to enjoy economic success and prosperity. The purchasing department believes that Locally Owned Small Businesses represent a major part of our business community and offer a wide variety of products and services needed by the County. When the County utilizes this segment of the community, it enriches the owners, employees and families of these businesses and the community as a whole with success and prosperity.

 Locally Owned Small Business subcontractors who have certified by the Shelby County Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance and are urged to consider same in compilation of their bid. Additionally, subcontractors on the list are advised of the project so that they may advise the general contractor of their desire to submit a bid.

 For informational purposes, the County considers a Locally Owned Small Business to be one which:

• Is a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, joint venture or any other business or professional entity that has gross annual sales of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) or less over the last three (3) fiscal years.
• At least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a Shelby County resident and located within the boundaries of Shelby County, Tennessee.

To help our Department expand these programs, the Purchasing Department urges our locally owned small businesses to contact the Shelby County Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance at (901) 545-4336 and inquire as to certification.

 As we move to a new millennium, Shelby County will continue to emphasize policies that foster locally owned small businesses by removing obstacles to their growth and by implementing incentives. For all of us, it is important to remember that fostering small businesses is good business in Shelby County.

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