Business News for November 16, 2021 |
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Today's message includes the following news, best practices, and courses:
- SBDC Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series
- UW-Madison SBDC Director on Innovate 608 Podcast
- SBA updates:
- Pandemic Response & Safety Grant Program
- New EIDL customer service number
- Webinar: Resources and Relief for Your Small Business - Access to Capital
- Is There Really Good Debt and Bad Debt?
- Need Employees? Urban League Offers Programs for Employers
- Long-time SBDC Supporter Receives ‘Triple E’ Award
- Free On-Demand Cybersecurity Course Supports Small Business
Upcoming SBDC Learning Opportunities
- Fearless Performance Management
- Digital Marketing & Social Media Conference - In person! $75 off discount code listed below
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Business News, Updates, and Best Practices |
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Have You Checked Out Our Entrepreneurial Video Series?
designed by the SBDC to answer your startup questions
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We created the SBDC Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series to help you navigate some of the most commonly asked business questions—everything from forming an LLC to understanding available loan options. The video series is just one part of a larger statewide effort to support small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBDC network.
Check it out!
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UW-Madison SBDC Director on Innovate 608 Podcast
in partnership with Discovery to Product (D2P) and StartingBlock
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UW-Madison SBDC Director Michelle Somes-Booher recently connected with StartingBlock Executive Director Nora Roughen-Schmidt and Discovery to Product (D2P) Director Andrew Richards as part of the Innovate 608 podcast.
In their conversation, they discussed entrepreneurial resources in the city of Madison, support organizations on the UW-Madison campus, and many of the changes that have taken place since the start of COVID-19.
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Pandemic Response & Safety Grant Program
for crop & meat producers & processors, distributors, farmers markets, applications accepted until November 22
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The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against COVID–19.
Grant request amounts accepted between $1,500-$20,000 (no match required), and eligible expenses include: workplace safety, market pivots, retrofit facilities, worker housing, and more.
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Need to Reach Out to the SBA?
new EIDL customer service phone number
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The SBA has a new customer service team focused on supporting small businesses with their COVID EIDL loans.
With this change, the new phone number is: (833) 853-5638.
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Resources and Relief for Your Small Business - Access to Capital
SBA webinar on December 1
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) & Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) are providing educational opportunities for you to learn more about programs that will help your business get back on track.
In this webinar:
- Learn more about COVID EIDL and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021
- Discover tools and resources you can use to start and grow your business
- Have your questions answered by SBA Leadership & small business experts
- Learn how you can become a vaccine leader in your community
- Get an update regarding programs and recent policy announcements made by the Biden-Harris Administration
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Is There Really Good Debt and Bad Debt?
from the ASBDC blog
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Taking on debt is often a key consideration for early-stage entrepreneurs and for businesses looking to expand. For some business owners, debt can feel like an overwhelming burden, while for others, it is a valuable tool for growth and cash flow flexibility. Is debt financing the right option for you?
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Need Employees? Urban League Offers Programs for Employers
featured employer seminars, job fairs, and job candidate referrals
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The Urban League of Madison provides job training, career mentorship and access to job listings for entry-level job seekers needing support in securing work. The center provides general job training for applicants across all job industries and industry-specific skill building in the medical, administrative support, skilled trades, IT and educational fields. Businesses in the greater Madison area seeking to fill employment gaps with Urban League clients may send job postings to Michelle Bozeman (mbozeman@ulgm.org) to be included in their semi-monthly job-posting newsletter.
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Long-time SBDC Supporter Receives ‘Triple E’ Award
Congratulations to Joseph Boucher!
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Joseph Boucher, whose career in law, accounting and teaching has spanned decades of support for the startup and investing sectors in Wisconsin received the “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award Nov. 3 at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
Also known as the “Triple E” award, the designation was launched by the Wisconsin Technology Council to highlight the importance of teaching and mentoring entrepreneurs. Joe has been a long-time supporter of the SBDC through education, sponsorships, and much more.
Congratulations, Joe!
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Cybersecurity Course Critical Education for Small Businesses
60 percent of small businesses can end up closing after a cyberattack
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A new on-demand course has been developed to prepare small businesses and tech professionals against the growing threat of cyberattacks.
- threat management
- vulnerability management
- incident response and security/architecture tool sets.
Each self-paced module is designed for two weeks of learning, about eight hours each week.
Why is this content important?
- According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the cost of cybercrimes reached $2.7 billion in 2020 – a growing threat to the U.S. economy.
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Only 28 percent of small businesses in the CNBC|Momentive Q3 2021 Small Business Survey said they have a plan in case of attack.
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Upcoming SBDC Learning Opportunities |
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Fearless Performance Management
starts November 30
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Whether you need to say “no” to your boss, give constructive feedback to a co-worker, deal with an upset customer, respond to a workplace bully, or conduct or receive a performance review, you will experience a conflict in the workplace. In this course, you will learn powerful models, tools, and techniques for approaching difficult conversations with confidence and composure. Navigating these conversations may never be easy, but we can make them more effective. |
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Digital Marketing & Social Media Conference
In person! FOUR presenters! December 8, 2021
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In this all-day, in-person conference, you will learn how to engage your customers and prospects online through your website and social media and track your activities so that you know what is working and what needs to be adjusted.
This semester's presenters include:
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How to Determine Your Social Media Mix – Sarah Best
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Tools, Tips & Tactics to Implement Lucrative SEO Key Word Strategies – Candy Phelps
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I need a Marketing Professional! – Sarah Hurley
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How & Why to Jump to the top of Google with Google Ads –Eagan Heath
We are excited to welcome you back on campus in person!
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Enter code DMSM75OFF when you register for the Digital Marketing & Social Media Conference to save $75 off of your registration fee!
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Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu or 608-263-2221 to request accommodations.
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