Alternative Financing for Small Business

SunBiz Showcase Alliance announces its first in a series of business building workshops in collaboration with: Seed & Venture Capital Financing
Venture capital is typically provided to early-stage start up companies that have high growth potential in industries such as biotechnology, information technology and manufacturing. Venture capital investments are generally made as cash investments in exchange for shares in the company.
Find Venture Capital Fast!

Search for Equity Financing & Loans for your small business
The following initiatives have been sponsored by the Federal government to create to help small companies raise capital. Numerous private equity firms also exist to provide funding. These firms tend to invest in businesses within a specific geographic area. Use our Loans and Grants Search Tool to find seed and venture capital programs in your area.
Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC)

In 1958, Congress created the Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) program to help small U.S. companies raise capital. SBIC's are privately owned and managed investment firms that provide venture capital and start-up financing to small businesses. To be eligible for SBIC financing, your business must meet certain SBA size requirements for a small business. Generally, the SBIC Program defines a company as "small" when its net worth is $18.0 million or less and its average after tax net income for the prior two years does not exceed $6.0 million. When you contact an SBIC, you'll need to present a professional business plan that addresses your company's operations, management, financial condition and funding requirements.

The following resources will help you locate SBIC financing:
* SBA's Guide for Entrepreneurs Seeking Financing provides in-depth information about the SBIC financing and eligibility requirements.
* SBA's SBIC Directory provides a listing of licensed SBIC investment firms in your state.
* The National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC) provides a Step-by-Step Guide to SBIC Financing. NASBIC is the trade organization for the SBIC industry, and also provides a directory of SBIC firms.

Active Capital

Active Capital is a nationwide listing service that connects entrepreneurs with angel investors. Potential investors can obtain information on start-ups and expanding small businesses seeking $250,000 to $5,000,000 in venture capital. Active Capital's main benefit is that it allows entrepreneurs to directly access a nationwide network of investors while complying with federal and state securities regulations.
Small Businesses in Economically Distressed Communities

If your business is located in a low-income geographic area, there are a couple of venture financing options available to you. First, there is a special type of SBIC called Specialized Small Business Investment Companies (SSBIC). SSBIC's provide assistance solely to small businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged persons. Secondly, you may be eligible for New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) financing. Modeled after the SBIC program, the NMVC program makes equity investments in small businesses located in economically distressed communities in urban and rural areas. NMVC financing is available in limited areas, and available from these venture capital firms.
Have a Question about Venture Capital?

Visit the Finance, Money & Taxes Community Forum to get answers to your questions, and discuss financing issues with other small business owners and industry experts.

excerpted from business.gov

An Invitation to Visit Central Florida's Green Resource Center

PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A CLEARER VIEW.

In Appreciation of My Dad on Father's Day

To all the Dads, a very Happy Father's Day this June 21, 2009.

A special Father's Day greeting to my Dad Charlie Henry!

I often wonder how other sons feel about their Dads. I even wonder how my own son feels about me. However, I know very few people have a Dad like mine who is loving, caring, intuitive and generous. Dad is one of the most special and influential persons in my life. He has been responsible for shaping my life in a way that is very difficult to explain. Ever since childhood, Dad provided my brother Nigel and me with a type of leadership by example that is not described in any manual. Even today, as I reside hundreds of miles away from the tiny island of Antigua where my Dad still lives, it is he whom I would call for for an opinion before making a big decision.

My Dad is one of the kindest, smartest and most brilliant persons that I know. He has an intellect and perception that is far beyond his environment. There is hardly anything of importance that he doesn't know something about. I often wish I had half his intellect. Although in his 85 plus years, Dad is still an avid reader, follows cricket on TV or radio anywhere in the world, as well as championship basketball.

So how do we show appreciation for a Dad like this? I guess by being true to ourselves.

Thanks Dad for all the important life lessons that you have taught us. Love Always!

S1- A Clear Advantage

I hope you all had a safe Memorial weekend. Many of you traveled by air (whether for business or pleasure) and took along your laptops. If you did not have your laptop in an S1 Clear Bag you may have had an embarrassing moment or two. Don't get caught on your next trip without an S1-Clear Laptop Bag. Visit http://www.s1bags.com/ while supplies last.

IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY!

GREEN UP! Your Home and Office for EARTH DAY!

Green, Green, Green. Everything now is GREEN! Spring is here and all the leaves are green again. Earth Day is the celebration of our “Green Earth.” “Green Building” is rapidly gaining recognition. So what is a Green Building really?

Actually, a Green Home or Office offers many advantages to it’s occupants and owners. A Green Building is really the product of an integrated design and building process specifically focused on efficient use of energy, water, and materials. This process seeks to maximize the health and productivity of the occupants and residents, while minimizing the environmental impact.

Occupants and owners of a Green Home or Office look forward to enjoying: 1) lower operating costs through lower Utility and Water bills; 2) enhanced health and safety benefits to occupants and residents; and if the building is well designed, less environmental impact.

The Owner of a Green Home or Office may even find that their GREEN home or commercial property is more valuable on the market due to GREEN Features such as:

· Quiet and Comfortable Living Spaces

· Improved Indoor Air Quality

· Energy Efficiency with Lower Utility Bills

· Water Savings and Water Purification

· Disaster Resistance

· Lower Building Maintenance needs

· Lower Insurance Rates

Green Homes and Commercial Properties often seek a greater harmony with their natural surroundings; perhaps incorporating native landscaping and access to bike trails. Collectively the GREEN Building features, outlined above, can add quite a lot to a sense of contentment and an enhanced quality of life. This can be a big draw in today’s Real Estate market.

ECO HUSET and Eco-$mart, Inc. cooperate in the GREEN Building Resource Center at 1211 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32804 (407) 992-8133. These two companies have a mission to support Designers, Builders, and the general Public to learn more about sustainable building practices and lifestyles. The GREEN Building Resource Center researches products on multiple levels for product purity and natural components; closed loop systems; and energy independence. ECO HUSET: GREEN Building Resource Center is conveniently located in downtown Orlando, Florida. Please call us for an Appointment to learn more about Sustainability and to GREEN UP! Your Home and Office this Earth Day, 2009!

For more information Contact: nikolebeth@gmail.com. You may also visit www.sunbizshowcasealliance.com and click on the eco-$mart link.

More Stimulus Tools

The State of Florida is definitely serious about making the stimulus package available for everyone who wants to learn more about the package, and get access to the grants and opportunities. Today Saturday, April 18th, the Executive Director of the Office of Supplier Diversity Torey Alston facilitated a seminar, "Energizing Florida's Economy" at the Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Mr. Alston was supported by Representative Dwayne Taylor of the Florida Legislature, Adora Obi Nweze Special Advisor to the Governor for Minority Affairs, and Don Winstead (keynote speaker) Special Advisor to the Governor on the Florida Economic Recovery team. Mr. Winstead was clear that the governor is committed to distributing the stimulus funds to everyone who qualifies and wants transparency with this package. He has created a special oversight board to oversee the distribution of the funds.

Other speakers included Ken Hamilton of the SBA's North Florida office and business owner Gloria Pugh of A.M.W.A.T. Moving & Warehousing. Senior officials from eleven other state departments were available to speak with attendees.

We learned that $25 billion dollars have been allocated to the State of Florida and distributed through state agencies, local and county governments and community agencies. Most of the funds will be applied for through competitive grants which will be posted on several websites. SunBiz Showcase Alliance will be available to assist businesses in identifying the sources of the funds and how to bid. You may contact us through our website at www.sunbizshowcasealliance.com.

Economic Stimulus Summit in Orlando

I attended the Economic Stimulus Summit in Orlando yesterday (March30, 2009) held by Congresswoman Corrine Brown. "How To Access Funding In The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act." I was quite impressed with the overall organization of the summit. Most specifically, with the details and amount of funds that are available and ready to be disbursed within the next few months.

In listening to the news and the pundits on the radio and TV, one would never know that this was a reality. It appears that the media has been collaborating to provide us with doom and gloom and have completely (or deliberately) overlooked the amount of jobs and services that the administration is rolling out over the next few weeks. Had I not gone to this Summit, I would not have known about the 78 plus capital projects for Florida with an average funding of one billion dollars. All of these projects are already funded and waiting for proposals.

Here are a few "examples":
1. US. DOT (Supplemental Discretionary Grant) $1.5 billion - grant - for metro and rural roads
2. US DOT - Rail $8 billion
3. US DOJ - Violence Against Women - $225 million
4. US HUD - Public Assisted Housing - $2.25 billion
5. Historic Preservation Fund - National Park Service - $15 million
6. DOE - Scientific Research - $1.6 billion

The question is why are we not hearing about this elsewhere? Please visit www.sunbizshowcasealliance.com and go to the "Links" page. There you will find hot links to the stimulus information and how to apply for these grants in your area.

Here are some of the agencies that were represented at the Summit, in addition to those listed above:

• Department of Commerce
• Small Business Administration
• Internal Revenue Service
• Department of Labor
• Lynx Transportation Agency
• Orlando Aviation Authority

Each agency had at least two representatives to answer questions. The Congresswoman attended each break-out session, sat in the audience and even asked questions. Thanks again to the Congresswoman and her staff for a job well done.