Small Business Assistance
Issues: Jobs and the Economy, Small Business
Congresswoman Chu is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business and recognizes the important role that small businesses play in our economic recovery. The purpose of this section is to provide information for small businesses, including links to state and federal agencies dedicated to assisting businesses and entrepreneurs to secure loans, export their products and contract with the government.
California focused small business resources:
California small business assistance
Tax infomration for California businesses
California Centers for International Trade Development
Federal government small business resources:
Small Business Administration
Business Opportunities with the Federal Government
Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
U.S. Government export portal
U.S. Government Central Contractor Registration
GovBenefits.gov
Department of Agriculture Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Department of Commerce Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs
Department of Energy Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
Department of Health and Human Services Small Business Programs
Department of Labor OSDBU's Small Business Resource Center
Department of Interior Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Department of Transportation Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Department of Housing and Urban Development Small Business Programs
Department of Veterans Affairs Small Business Programs
House Small Business Committee
Other helpful resources for small businesses:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation
SCORE
Small Business Information
Consumer Protection
California focused small business resources:
California small business assistance
http://business.ca.gov/SmallBusiness.aspx
The Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA) is established in statute “to advocate the causes of small business and provide small business owners with information needed to succeed in the California marketplace.”
Tax information for California businesses
http://www.taxes.ca.gov/
The California Tax Service Center is a partnership of tax agencies including the Board of Equalization, Employment Development Department, Franchise Tax Board, and Internal Revenue Service. They have joined together to streamline and improve taxpayer resources and educational programs. If you are an individual taxpayer or a small business owner, new to California or dealing with some special circumstances, you will find the Tax Service Center helpful.
California Centers for International Trade Development
https://sites.google.com/site/californiacitdnetwork/
California CITDs provides a full range of trade assistance services to companies and individuals throughout the state of California. All CITD services are either free or low cost. Whether you're new or experienced in export or import, small or large, we have experts and resources ready to help you.
Federal government small business resources
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA website contains important resources to help small businesses learn about programs designed to assist them, as well as loan opportunities.
Business Opportunities with the Federal Government
http://chu.house.gov/resources/federal-business-opportunities
This information gateway, prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, provides guidance and online procurement procedures for doing business with the federal government.
Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
http://chu.house.gov/resources/grants
Guidance and key resources to help eligible grantseekers find information on federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance for projects, as well as on private funding. Prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress.
U.S. Government export portal
http://export.gov/
Export.gov brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeed in today’s global marketplace.
U.S. Government Central Contractor Registration
https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is the official, FREE on-line registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition and award missions. You do not need pay to register in CCR.
GovBenefits.gov
http://www.benefits.gov/
GovBenefits.gov is a partnership of federal agencies with a shared vision: providing improved, personalized access to government assistance programs.
Department of Agriculture Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
http://www.dm.usda.gov/osdbu/
USDA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) was established June 26, 1979 pursuant to Public Law (P.L.) 95-507, which assigned it the task of fostering the use of small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses as federal contractors.
Department of Commerce Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/About_Us.html
The goals of the OSDBU are to institutionalize the use of small businesses and to fully integrate them into the U.S. Department of Commerce's competitive base of contractors. The DOC OSDBU itself is not a procurement office, but serves as a liaison between the small business community and the DOC procurement offices.
Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs
http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/
We advise the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to small business and are committed to maximizing the contributions of small business in DoD acquisitions. We provide leadership and governance to the Military Departments and Defense Agencies to meet the needs of the nations' Warfighters, creating opportunities for small businesses while ensuring each tax dollar is spent responsibly.
Department of Energy Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
http://energy.gov/diversity/working-us/small-businesses
The U.S. Department of Energy is committed to increasing the contracting opportunities awarded to small and disadvantaged businesses, establishing goals, promulgating policy, and developing practices and programs to encourage and increase small business participation in departmental procurement opportunities, and guiding small and disadvantaged businesses through the process of contracting with the Federal government. Specifically, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization assists small, disadvantaged, 8(a), women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones.
Department of Health and Human Services Small Business Programs
http://www.hhs.gov/about/smallbusiness/
HHS is committed to helping small businesses in their pursuit of health and human services related contracts. Learn about our opportunities for you to learn about HHS, its contracting opportunities, and how we can do business together.
Department of Labor OSDBU's Small Business Resource Center
http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/osdbu/sbrefa/
Welcome to the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Web page designed to assist small business owners understand the rules and regulations the Department administers.
Department of Interior Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
http://www.doi.gov/pmb/osdbu/index.cfm
Provides outreach and assistance for procurement and contracting opportunities that supports small businesses.
Department of Transportation Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
http://www.osdbu.dot.gov/
The US Department of Transportation's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (DOT/OSDBU) was created as part of the Small Business Act (SBA) to ensure that small and disadvantaged businesses are provided maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the agency's contracting process. Pursuant to Public Law 95-507, every federal agency is required to have an OSDBU, which, by statute, reports directly to the head of the agency.
Department of Housing and Urban Development Small Business Programs
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sdb/about/sbtypes
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is committed to providing universal access to both small businesses and large businesses. The Agency recognizes that small businesses are of vital importance to job growth and the economic strength of the country. A successful and strong business community is an integral component of the Department's overall mission of job creation, community empowerment and economic revitalization. This site provides information to assist in your marketing and educational efforts.
Department of Veterans Affairs Small Business Programs
http://www.vetbiz.gov/
This website provides up-to-the-minute information from the federal government on Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
House Small Business Committee
http://democrats.smallbusiness.house.gov/welcomemessage.htm
This web site is designed to provide you with important, up-to-date information on the activities of the Small Business Committee. We are your advocate in Congress, and we welcome your questions and comments. Thank you for your interest.
Other helpful resources for small businesses
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation
http://www.uschambersmallbusinessnation.com/
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation website was founded on the open exchange of information and ideas, while creating the opportunity for small businesses to speak with a unified voice. The website provides helpful guides to owning a small business, as well as special toolkits to help grow your business.
SCORE
http://www.score.org/
The SCORE organization provides free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs. On the website, you can find business tools and resources, get help creating your own business plan, and get one-on-one advice from retired entrepreneurs.
http://smallbusiness.com/
Find the knowledge you need to help you start, run and grow your business by using the Category Hub to browse by topic.
List of Consumer protection organizations designed to ensure the rights of consumers as well as fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace.
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