Advocacy Submits Comments on Atlantic Herring Specifications

On November 10, 2009, the Office of Advocacy submitted a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding the specifications for the Atlantic herring fishery. (read more)

Regulatory Alert - 8(a) Business Development/Small Disadvantaged Business Status Determinations

On October 28, 2009, the United States Small Business Administration published a proposal to make changes to the regulations governing the 8(a) Business Development (8(a) BD) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs, and to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA or Agency) size regulations. There are six proposed changes to SBA’s size regulations, two dealing with mentor/protege´ situations, one amending requirements for joint ventures, one clarifying how a procurement should be classified, one further explaining the nonmanufacturer rule, and one relating to who may request a formal size determination. The remaining proposed changes are to the regulations governing SBA’s 8(a) BD and SDB programs. Comments are due no later than December 28, 2009. (read more)

Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business

The U.S. economic recovery began in the third quarter of 2009 as real GDP grew an annualized 3.5 percent; however, the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent in September. These and other trends can be found in the latest update to the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business. (read more)

The November Small Business Advocate

The November 2009 issue of The Small Business Advocate announces the appointment of Susan Walthall as acting chief counsel for advocacy and features the 2009 edition of the Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories. (read more)

Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories

Small businesses will play an important role in the nation’s economic future. The Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profile for the United States, released today, provides details about small business employment, business starts and closings, bank lending in 2008, the demographics of business ownership, and firm and employment change by major industry and firm size. (read more)

Small Businesses Are Important Players in U.S. Business and Job Growth

Small businesses will play an important role in the nation’s economic future. The Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profile for the United States, released today, provides details about small business employment, business starts and closings, bank lending in 2008, the demographics of business ownership, and firm and employment change by major industry and firm size. (read more)

Advocacy Recommends That FAA Consider the Impact of Safety Management System (SMS) on Small Aviation Businesses

On October 21, 2009, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the FAA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Safety Management System (SMS). (read more)

An Analysis of the Effect of Reserve Activation on Small Business

Military reserve activations have risen in recent years. An Analysis of the Effect of Reserve Activation on Small Business seeks to assess the effects of these activations on employers and finds that small firms with fewer than 100 employee were more affected than larger firms. (read more)

Frequently Asked Questions

The updated Frequently Asked Questions estimates that there were 29.6 million small businesses in the United States in 2008, and small firms accounted for 64 percent of the net new jobs generated between 1993 and the third quarter of 2008. (read more)