MISSISSIPPI 2014-2015 BUSINESS SMALL SMALL RESOURCE Making the Most of SBA’s Resource Partner Network page 30 Counseling PAGE 8 Capital PAGE 15 Contracting PAGE 31 www.SBA.gov • connect with us @ facebook.com/SBAgov twitter.com/sbagov youtube.com/sba SMALL BUSINESS RENI Publishing Publishers of Small Business Resource Advertising Phone: 863-294-2812 • 800-274-2812 Fax: 863-299-3909 • www.sbaguides.com Staff President/CEO content2014-2015 MISSISSIPPI Joe Jensen [email protected] English/Spanish Small Business Resource FEATURES Advertising Nicky Roberts [email protected] 5 Introduction 30 Feature Article Martha Theriault [email protected] 5 Regional Administrator’s Making the Most of SBA’s Kenna Rogers [email protected] Message Resource Partner Network 6 District Director’s Letter Production Diane Traylor [email protected] 31 Contracting 8 Counseling Applying for Government Getting Help to Start Up, Market Contracts SBA’s Marketing Office: and Manage Your Business 31 How Government Contracting The Small Business Resource Guide is published under the direction of SBA’s Office of Marketing and 8 SBA Resource Partners Works Customer Service. 10 SBA’s Online Tools and 32 SBA Contracting Programs Training 36 Getting Started in Contracting Director of Marketing 11 Reaching Underserved Paula Panissidi Communities 37 Disaster Assistance [email protected] 13 Are You Right for Small Knowing the Types of Assistance Business Ownership? Available for Recovery Graphic Design 14 Writing a Business Plan Gary Shellehamer 39 Advocacy and Ombudsman [email protected] 15 Capital Watching Out for Small Business Financing Options to Start or Interests SBA’s participation in this publication is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or Grow Your Business services of the contractor or any advertiser or other 15 SBA Business Loans 40 Additional Resources participant appearing herein. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a 16 What to Take to the Lender Taking Care of Start Up Logistics nondiscriminatory basis. 24 Surety Bond Guarantee 43 Business Organization: Program Choosing your Structure Printed in the United States of America 24 Small Business Investment While every reasonable effort has been made Company Program 45 Other Assistance to ensure that the information contained herein 25 Small Business Innovation is accurate as of the date of publication, the information is subject to change without notice. Research Program 49 Lender Listing The contractor that publishes this guide, the federal 25 Small Business Technology government, or agents thereof shall not be held Transfer Program liable for any damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this 27 SBA Loan Program Chart publication. 29 SBA Lenders Program Chart SBA Publication # MCS-0018 This publication is provided under SBA Contract On the Cover: Diane Lewis’s Action Facilities # SBAHQ05C0014. Management in Morgantown, West Virginia, was started as a home-based business. SBA assisted Lewis in writing her business plan and with workshops on government contracting. Lewis entered the SBA 8(a) Business Development program for counseling, training and match-making opportunities. Her business has grown to approximately 300 employees. 2 — Mississippi Small Business Resource Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ms The U.S. Small Business Administration FROM THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR Message From The Region IV Regional Administrator Cassius Butts As Regional Administrator for At last count, the state of Mississippi Region IV of the U.S. Small Business had over 240,000 small businesses/ Administration, my role is to be the self-employed making significant eyes and ears for small business in the contributions to the state’s economy, Southeast. I travel the region widely and bringing innovative products and and visit with many entrepreneurial services to the marketplace. success stories and I also learn the challenges that many business owners I believe it is our entrepreneurs and face. We work together as a team at small business owners that drive SBA to assist aspiring and existing small America’s ability to innovate and stay business owners every day to reach their competitive across the globe. goals; whether it is to start a new small business or grow an existing business. We know the obstacles that entrepreneurs face and salute your Small business is dear to my heart as I courage and creativity. come from a family of entrepreneurs. At times, it wasn’t easy; but I remember We wish you entrepreneurial success! them telling me that it was always rewarding. I continue to be impressed with the resiliency of small business owners who go to work day in and day out, overcoming challenges and making ends meet. Cassius Butts Small businesses are the engine of our Regional Administrator economy. Across the country, more than Region IV half of employed Americans either own U.S. Small Business Administration or work for a small business. Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ms Mississippi Small Business Resource — 5 MISSISSIPPI SBA Staff Listing Message From The District Director www.sba.gov/ms MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT Harris, Rosetta G. OFFICE Lender Relations Specialist Regions Plaza Ext. 18 Rules For Success 210 E. Capitol St., Ste. 900 Jackson, MS 39201 McClendon, James E. Administrative Officer Like today’s small businesses, large corporate success stories MAIN NUMBER: Ext. 19 601-965-4378 started with only an entrepreneur and a dream. Ext. 10 Melton, Penney Economic Development TDD PHONE: Specialist 800-877-8339 Ext. 27 elcome to the 2014- non-bank active SBA lending partners, and FAX: 601-965-5629 or Sanford, Jeremy 2015 edition of the other small business advocates throughout our 601-965-4294 Student Assistant Mississippi Small state with whom SBA collaborates. Ext. 10 Business Resource Stewart, Janita R. Guide. If you are familiar As always, we thank RENI Publishing for District Director GULFPORT BRANCH Wwith this tool, you know that it provides a their continued partnership in producing the Ext. 20 OFFICE wealth of information on SBA’s vast array of guide and especially thank the advertisers. It Hancock Bank Plaza credit and is through the advertisers’ participation and Reed, Gary K. 2510 14th St., Ste. 103 Deputy District Director Gulfport, MS 39501 non-credit programs and services and shares support that this publication is made available Ext. 12 needed information and direction for start-up to the Mississippi small business community – MAIN NUMBER: entrepreneurs, existing small business owners, free of charge. Conner, Joyce M. 228-863-4449 and those people who are thinking about one Business Opportunity day of becoming their own boss. Through I invite you to read this guide, refer to it Specialist TDD PHONE: the years, this guide has been used as a often, even share it with other entrepreneurs Ext. 13 800-877-8339 go-to quick ready-reference to search for not and small businesses so that you and they Dean, Debbie W. BRANCH FAX: only information on programs and services may take full advantage of SBA’s finance, Lender Relations Specialist 228-864-0179 available from SBA, but also to find contact entrepreneurial development, certifications Ext. 11 and other information on additional resources and federal government contracting programs, Foster, Lance P. in Mississippi who help small businesses get which have been designed with you, the small Doss, Alice A. Branch Manager started, grow, and succeed. business owner, in mind. Supervisory Business Ext. 222 Opportunity Specialist This guide contains information on the 3 Cs For further information on SBA programs Ext. 14 Johnson-Fells, Bridget D. Economic Development – Counseling, Capital and Contracts. You’ll and services, conferences, workshops and Fisher, Rhonda H. Specialist/PIO learn about SBA’s business loans, venture seminars, free e- newsletters, as well as other Supervisory Lender Relations Ext. 225 capital, surety bonds, certifications, and initiatives affecting small businesses locally and Specialist federal government contracting programs, nationally, please visit our website at www. Ext. 15 SCORE-Gulf Coast Chapter along with the critical disaster assistance SBA sba.gov and www.sba.gov/ms or call and/ 228-863-0054 provides in times of federally-declared natural or visit our Mississippi District or Gulfport disasters, and other vital information. You’ll Branch Offices. Also follow at also find a comprehensive listing of SBA- DID YOU KNOW? funded resource partners – including SCORE Remember that in our continous journey The SBA Mississippi District and Gulfport Branch Offices serve the state with a wide variety of small business – America’s Counselors; our Women’s of “supporting the formation, growth, prosperity and programs and services. Federal fiscal year (FY) 2013 Business Center (WBC) operated by CLIMB viability of Mississippi’s small businesses,” we are was a strong lending year for Mississippi in terms Community Development Corporation, here to serve you! We want to help you make of guaranty loan dollars. A total of 428 loans were guaranteed totaling almost $139 million through SBA’s LLC; and the Mississippi Network of Small your dreams come true. 7(a) guaranty loan program and the 504 guaranty loan Business Development Centers (MSBDC). program which served to provide much needed capital Each of these organizations provides free and Sincerely, for small business start-up and expansion. Further- confidential counseling, training, management more, according to the Federal Procurement Data System – Next Generation, more than $301.4 million and technical assistance to individuals, in federal government contract dollars were awarded entrepreneurs, and small businesses to Mississippi small businesses; $70.2 million to 8(a) throughout Mississippi. Furthermore, the Janita R. Stewart firms; $58.2 million to HUBZone firms; $31.8 million guide highlights state agencies, chambers to women-owned businesses; $92.8 million to small District Director of of commerce, economic development disadvantaged businesses; $58.9 million to veterans; SBA’s Mississippi District Office and $33.1 million to service-disabled veterans.