WIPP Leaders attended a private Procurement Briefing arranged by Senate Small Business Committee staff members.
The WIPP leaders group heard from Naomi Baum, Majority Staff Director, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Gregg Willis, Senate Committee on Small Business Committee and Entrepreneurship, Peter Levine, Senate Armed Services Committee and Troy Cribb, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. WIPP members then had a debriefing with WIPP Lobbyist Ann Sullivan and WIPP President Barbara Kasoff and ended the day with a private Capitol tour.
Attending the briefing were Cheryl Amyx, Gloria Berthold, Marion Bonhomme-Knox, Kristine Cook Lindsey, Linda Denny, Nicole Geller, Catherine Giordano, Rachel Hall, LaVern Jackson, Ronia Kruse, Valerie Perlowitz, Sheryl Swed, Magdalah Silva and Doña Storey. Also attending the briefing for WIPP were Ann Sullivan, Barbara Kasoff and Katie Kilby.
Women’s Procurement Study to be SubmittedThe long-awaited Women’s Procurement Study is expected to be finalized and submitted to the SBA in 10 weeks. Once the study is submitted, the next step would be for the Agency to issue proposed regulations to implement the women’s procurement program. WIPP will keep you apprised of this important news.
SBA NEWS
President Bush Releases FY2008 BudgetPresident Bush submitted his FY2008 Budget Proposal to Congress this week. The $2.9 trillion proposal outlines his plan to use spending cuts to federal programs to create budget surpluses by 2012 without new tax increases.
Of particular note to WIPP members are the provisions in the
Small Business Administration (SBA) budget. In a SBA Budget Briefing this week, the SBA gave an overview of the budget and discussed SBA priorities.
According to the SBA, Administrator Preston’s first focus when appointed was the reengineering process of disaster assistance programs, placing a focus on efficiency and effectiveness. The SBA reported in the upcoming fiscal year, the agency will also evaluate new agency scorecards to drill down on how agencies are reaching their small business contracting goals. Also of note, with additional allocations in the budget, the SBA will look to focus on structure that will increase the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness including the addition of Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) to aid small businesses. Another focus is outreach to underserved markets, including rural and inner city locations, to aid small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing these areas new worksites.
Click here to access the Administration’s full budget proposal.
Click here for the SBA’s overview of the President’s Budget Proposal.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL UPDATE
Take Action to Urge Your Representative to Support Investment in Small Business
The Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) Act of 2007 (HR 578) was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Don Manzullo (R-IL). The ACE Act would create a 25-percent tax credit for accredited investors and certain partnerships (including angel investment pools if all are accredited investors) that invest cash or cash equivalents at an arm's length in a qualified small business. An angel investment pool is a group of investors who come together to pursue common investments.
WIPP members have identified access to capital as one of the top concerns facing their business. This legislation would provide a critical source of funding for small businesses. WIPP has conducted extensive grassroots efforts in support of this legislation and will continue to push for quick enactment.
WIPP is asking all members to urge your Representatives to cosponsor HR 578.
Click here to read the action alert and to personalize an email to send to your Representatives. This will only take a few minutes but will help WIPP reach our goal of securing 100 cosponsors.
If you are not a WIPP member, now is the time to check it out and join!
Click here for information.
