Facebook, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber To Host Free Workshop For Tacoma Veteran and Military Family-Owned Small Businesses

On Tuesday, November 10, Facebook will be in Tacoma, Wash., to teach local veteran and military family small business owners how to optimize their presence and engage customers on the world’s largest social network.

Facebook’s veteran and military family-focused Boost Your Business will be held in Tacoma in honor of Veterans Day, November 11. The event will be co-hosted by Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, with Congressman Derek Kilmer welcoming entrepreneurs.

“The skills our service members pick up in the military are often the very same skills that make for a successful entrepreneur or small business owner,” said Congressman Kilmer. “As more service members transition to the civilian workforce it’s important they get the support they need to be successful. This forum will give our local veterans a chance to learn how to sharpen their ideas and reach an even broader audience online to help their business grow, all while networking with other veteran entrepreneurs.”

The Boost Your Business seminar will include a presentation by a Facebook small business expert on the latest Facebook best practices and strategies for success. A question and answer session will follow, featuring a panel of local small business people that will share their Facebook tips, tricks and suggestions. The panelists are representing the following local small businesses: home décor store Westhouse Décor, family run winery Mill Lane Winery, clothing retailer Combat Flip Flops and non-profit running community wear blue: run to remember.

Before the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of local business development organizations and hear about community resources during the networking session.

How do Facebook and small businesses connect?

• There are more than 45 million small businesses using Facebook to connect with customers.
• Approximately 8 in 10 people in the US are connected to at least one small business on Facebook.

Members of the media who have any questions or would like to attend the event should RSVP to Samantha Spielman.

WHEN AND WHERE:        
Tacoma, Wash. – Tuesday, November 10
Tacoma’s Landmark Catering & Convention Center (Plaza Grand Ballroom)
47 Saint Helens Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Check In/Networking: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Presentation and Q&A: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
To register and for more information HERE.

WHAT: FREE seminar on how to use Facebook to grow your small business.

WHO:  Representatives from Facebook, Congressman Derek Kilmer and veteran- and military family-owned small businesses.

Celebrate Nat'l Vet Small Business Week

Join the conversation at #MyVetBiz to share veteran stories, encourage community members to highlight local veteran-owned businesses in their community, and show gratitude and support to veterans and their families.

Opportunity with Alliance Northwest

Opportunities to be a sponsor or exhibitor for the Alliance Northwest B2G Conference.

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Tacoma/South Sound Chapter of SCORE Takes Top Honors

The Tacoma/South Sound chapter of SCORE, is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2014 Washington Veteran Small Business Champion a nonprofit whose volunteers provide free mentoring to small businesses and future entrepreneurs.

The SBA Veteran Small Business Champion Award honors those who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The skills veterans acquire from service can be directly translated into owning and operating a business, said Nancy Porzio, SBA Seattle district director. Without the help of the Tacoma/South Sound chapter of SCORE, we wouldn’t be able to reach as many transitioning service members through our Boots to Business program.

The SBA Boots to Business initiative is a two-step training program that ensures every transitioning service member has access to the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, connect with local small business resources, and launch their small business.

Tacoma/South Sound SCORE has led seven workshops to more than 360 veterans at Joint Base Lewis-McChord transitioning from a service member to a business owner through the SBA Boots to Business program.

The chapter is scheduled to conduct eight more workshops during the remainder of 2014.

Joint Base Lewis McChord is located in the heart of the Tacoma/South Sound SCORE chapter, said Dave Binz, Tacoma SCORE president. Leading these workshops is very rewarding.

The SBA 2014 Washington Veteran Small Business Champion will be recognized at a local awards ceremony event May 8 in conjunction with National Small Business Week May 12-16.

National Small Business Week is a time to recognize the impact small business has on our country, said SBA Regional Administrator Calvin Goings. It’s a chance to celebrate the dedicated, hard-working small business owners who are making a difference in their communities.

Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. SBA recognizes outstanding small business owners for their personal successes and contributions to our nation.

SBA Seattle District Office 2013 Washington Veterans Small Business Champion

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2013 Washington State Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year is Giselle Saguid. 

Previously the Program Director of the Northwest Washington Women’s Business Center (NWWBC) located in Everett, Wash., she has spent years teaching entrepreneurial classes as part of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Transition Assistance Program at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Air Station Everett. I am honored to be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2013 Washington State Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Saguid said.

Saguid, who lives in Marysville, Wash., has worked with the Department of the Navy, surrounding cities, counties, lending partners and other local, state and federal resources to provide the small business services Veterans need. Saguid also supported Veterans’ spouses who focus on transferrable businesses while part of the military. She has volunteered countless hours to help train and educate Veterans on the transition from service member to business owner, said SBA Regional Administrator Calvin Goings.

Besides working with active duty Sailors and other service members, Saguid organized workshops solely focused on Veterans and their needs. In total, she delivered more than 100 entrepreneurial classes and workshops to Veterans in Snohomish, Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties. I tried to give them information that will be beneficial to them in their new lives that is satisfying and helps take care of their families, Saguid said.

From amongst her peers, the SBA Seattle District Office has chosen Saguid as the best champion for Veterans. Giselle Saguid has been devoted to Washington state service members and Veterans for more than six years, said SBA Seattle District Office Director Nancy Porzio. Her dedication and commitment to helping America’s heroes is evident.

Saguid and other Washington state SBA award recipients will be recognized for their achievements at the 2013 SBA Annual Small Business Awards Gala Thursday at the Museum of Flight. 

For more information about Saguid, call (206) 324-4330 Extension 123 or email giselles@seattleccd.com. For more information about SBA or the SBA Annual Small Business Awards Gala, call (206) 553-7310 or email lorin.smith@sba.gov. 

Housed Passed 2013 NDAA

Last week the House passed the final version of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes nearly $527.5 billion for the Department of Defense, $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations, and $17.4 billion for the national security activities of the Department of Energy, and includes a number of provisions that will help encourage growth in our economy, and provide enhanced opportunities for small businesses.

Language intended to improve the opportunity and capability of U.S. small businesses to compete for Defense contacts includes:

• Provisions that improve the transparency and enforcement of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
• Provisions making it more difficult for businesses to fraudulently pass through contracts meant for small businesses to large businesses.
• Increases to the size of bonds the Small Business Administration can guarantee at no cost to taxpayers.
• Removal of the dollar caps on set aside contracts for women owned small businesses.
• Requirements that small business advocates be part of federal procurement and acquisition planning processes, and requirements that acquisition plans address how small businesses will be utilized.

The bill also authorizes $200 million for the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF), a competitive, merit based program aimed at accelerating the transition of technologies developed by phase II Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) projects, defense laboratories, and other innovative technologies into defense acquisition programs. Information for funding on RIF programs in FY2013 will be posted to the Defense Innovation Marketplace.

For more information on the entire FY2013 NDAA conference report, click here.

Special Forum Explores Economy and Defense

The Special Forum with former Congressman and Vice-Admiral (ret.) Joe Sestak drew a full-house, cosmopolitan mix of business and civic leaders.

Sestak focused on both the economy and the defense community as he explored the nation’s issues in this roundtable discussion.  He observed, that a majority (estimated at 70%) of people who lost their jobs in this recession were small business (less than 20 employees) employees. Sestak said the stimulus was too small, missed the target and lacked accountability.  That target should have been the “star player” in the economy, small business, he said.

Other noteworthy comments by Sestak are:

• The Federal Reserve has given a star performance.
• Europe needs to go “all in” and may not.
• This is the first recession that the housing market has not lead the recovery.
• People can’t move to jobs because of they are underwater on their mortgages.
• He is pessimistic about the Super Committee achieving a debt deal.
• The military has been charged with meeting two major actions, and may become no longer able to meet that standard.
• The military doesn’t always tell Congress the most-likely costs.

Sestak’s recommendations for a recovery program:

• Guarantee community banks loans, the source of small business lending, at 98%.
• Raise the interest rate cap so higher risks will be taken by lenders.
• Increase 504(c) loans.
• Increase micro-loans.

Proposed Rules Against MARAD Ships

Washington State, through its Shoreline Management Act, requires all jurisdictions to develop a plan for managing shorelines. Shorelines are the area from the water's edge for 200 feet inland.

Tacoma is in the final stages of its Shoreline Master Program Update. The Tacoma Planning Commission has recommended the Tacoma City Council adopt a land use zoning regulation that would negatively impact the MARAD vessel moorage at Sperry Ocean Dock.

These vessels are actively used for training and support of the JBLM mission, as well as a number of operational and training uses for military, security, law enforcement and firefighters. Much myth-information about these ships is used by opponents of their continued operations here.

The most critical issue is the recommendation to move the boundary between the zoning area Shoreline-6 District (for pedestrian and recreational use) to include lands currently in the zoning area Shoreline-7 District (for industrial and terminals use). That move will cause the Sperry Ocean Dock property, leased for MARAD ships, to become a non-conforming use, subject to harmful constraints on future financing, leasing and permitting.

You are urged to oppose this action and keep Sperry in the Shoreline-7 District. You may comment at a final public hearing on:

September 27, 5:30 p.m.
Tacoma Council Chambers
747 Market Street, Tacoma 98402

. . . or write or email your concerns to:

Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Councilmembers
City of Tacoma
747 Market Street, Suite 1200, Tacoma, WA 98402
Email: Marilyn.Strickland@cityoftacoma.org

The final vote for adoption is scheduled for November 22.  Don't delay as your support in needed now.

REF Seeks SB Nimbleness for Solutions

Our community is lucky to have a new, dynamic Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), Jimmy Collins. Mr. Collins wants to connect Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber members to Army procurement opportunities.

First focus: the Rapid Equipping Force (REF) portal that has been responsible for several of the gains made in quickly equipping Stryker Brigade Combat Teams from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

During every war, Army units are confronted with shortfalls that require immediate action to neutralize an adaptive enemy. These urgent warfighting needs often emerge faster than the institutional acquisition processes can address them.

In November 2002, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army created the REF as a unique, singular organization designed to address an Army-wide, systemic deficiency in providing immediate and innovative technology solutions.

Many of the most innovative solutions the Army has employed have come from small businesses, yet the Army is challenged with making this part of the business community aware of both their requirements and the opportunities to partner with them to better serve our soldiers.

Enclosed is an information paper about the REF to help increase awareness among small businesses about ways they can contribute to satisfying our soldiers most urgent equipment needs. Look for future articles in the coming weeks with more detailed information on REF's current focus areas and the most urgent problems to solve.

The REF is located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Together, small businesses can meet critical warfighter needs faster.