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Cassius Butts
Regional Administrator |
What's New in 2012?
I am pleased to introduce to you the first of many monthly newsletters from our SBA Region 4 Office. Since my appointment as regional administrator, I have enjoyed traveling the region and meeting with many of you; small business owners and community leaders. I am excited to share the latest SBA program initiatives and opportunities with you on a monthly basis. This is an exciting time at SBA. We are pleased to announce that nearly $4 billion in SBA-backed loans were approved in the Southeast Region for Fiscal Year 2011. We are hopeful for another successful year in small business lending.
Fortunately, we have witnessed an econominc upturn in the small business community. We credit SBA Administrator Karen Mills and Deputy Administrator Marie Johns for being a vocal force for our agency. In addition, we welcome them back to visit our nine SBA districts (see map below) in Region 4. This enables us to exemplify our great small business successes and the progress of our small business economy.
One of the newest programs SBA has to offer that you might find of interest is the new and improved SBA CapLines Loan Program.
We are pleased to report the SBA has re-engineered the CAPLines Program as of October 1, 2011 and here are the key benefits:
• Small businesses can pledge accounts receivable, inventory, contracts, and purchase orders in order to secure an SBA revolving line of credit.
• Small business subcontractors can obtain an SBA-guaranteed line of credit to finance their work on a contract with a federal prime contractor.
• The SBA will no longer require small business owners without building or equipment to use their personal assets as collateral to secure working capital.
• Small businesses working on a contract that requires surety bonding can obtain an SBA-guaranteed line of credit.
Overall, the new and improved CAPLines Program will provide business owners with the working capital they need to take advantage of new opportunities as they continue to grow their business and create jobs.
Contact your local SBA District Office at
www.sba.gov to learn more about this great loan program.
SBA’s top priority is to get small businesses the capital and the tools they need to startup, grow and stay in business. That is our mission and we will continue to work with this Administration to help small businesses lead our country in creating jobs to put people back to work.
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A Special Thanks to:
Sonya Burks, SBA Mississippi District Office |
SBA Region IV Employee of the Month
The SBA Mississippi District Office is proud to introduce Sonya L. Burks. Sonya came onboard in June 2011 as a Program Support Assistant, and has since transitioned into our District Support Assistant (DSA). Sonya brings 13 years of non-profit lending to small minority and women-owned business, and project development to the agency. In her role as DSA, Sonya will perform a host of duties to the highest degree of professionalism which includes greeting visitors into the office; answering the phone, preparing and mailing out small business start-up kits, preparing information packets for lender bank visits, maintaining the District Director’s calendar and weekly reports, updating resource materials, supporting special projects in each division, and a variety of administrative functions.
Sonya is native of Jackson, MS and a graduate of Jackson State University with a degree in Business Administration. She is married to Michael Burks, and they have three children Ashley, Jarred and Micah.
Alabama:
The SBA Alabama District Office is pleased to announce that they have three SBA lenders on board ready to administer SBA Export Express Loans- streamlined financing up to $500,000 with a response from the SBA within 36 hours after applying. SBA Export Express is the simplest loan product available from the SBA. For more information
click here.
North Florida:
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown will be holding a "Business Builder" event on February 7, 2012 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. This is the first of a series that will assist entrepreneurs in launching their ideas in Jacksonville by providing an opportunity to navigate and expand their business ideas. Please visit
www.coj.net for further information.
South Florida:
Regional Administrator Cassius Butts addressed the members of Gulf Coast Business Finance along with SBA's Patrick Kelley, Senior Advisor to Associate Administrator Office of Capital Access in St. Petersburg on January 19th. The event took place during the Gulf Coast Buisness Finance Annual Membership Meeting coordinated by Ron Reuss, President of GCBF.
Georgia:
The Georgia District Office is proud to announce that they had a record-breaking year in lending. The SBA Georgia District Office surpassed $1 billion in SBA Guaranteed Loans in Fiscal Year 2011! The Georgia District Office looks forward to continued success in 2012.
Kentucky:
Ralph Ross, Deputy District Director since 2004 for the SBA North Florida District Office in Jacksonville, has been selected as the new SBA Kentucky District Office Director. Mr. Ross will replace Steve Ayers, who retired in July 2011.
" In my role as District Counsel for both the Kentucky and North Florida District Offices, I have had the pleasure to work with Ralph Ross, Willie Gonzalez and the SBA staff for many years now. It is now my sincere pleasure, as Acting Director to welcome Ralph to the Kentucky District Office as our new District Director. I know Ralph and his bride will love Kentucky and we are eager for him to settle in," says SBA's Linda George.
Mississippi:
7j Training in Jackson, MS January 31, 2012- Topics Include: Defining scope of work, estimating and the bid process, the cost estimate, R.S. Means and how to use it and managing and controlling risk. For more information, contact the SBA Mississippi District Office's Alice Doss at
alice.doss@sba.gov or 601-965-4378 ext. 14
North Carolina:
Are you a military veteran? Would you like to start or expand your own small business? The SBA Veteran's Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Fayetteville State University can help you.
The VBOC provides training, counseling, and technical assistance for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reservists, National Guard Members, Active Duty business owners and start-ups in the Southeast. The VBOC serves North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Director Robert Rehder and his professional staff can answer questions about running their business, working with them to create a business plan, and helping them explore financing options like SBA’s Patriot Express loan.
Ask about the annual Veteran’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp (EBC). The EBC exposes participants to the “nuts and bolts” of business ownership through workshops and lessons from faculty, guest entrepreneurs, and business experts. There is no cost for the program.
South Carolina:
The South Carolina District has been asked to participate with the South Carolina Department of Commerce in the development strategic guidance planning for small businesses in the state. Please stay tuned for more information coming out very soon!
Tennessee:
SBA’s Tennessee District honored 14 new graduates of its Memphis Emerging 200 Initiative (e200) at a graduation ceremony held December 12, 2011 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Congratulations to the following graduates!
• Samuel Hines, ASTAPP, Inc.
• Sandeep Pednekar, Advent Enterprises, Inc.
• Jack Steele, Center for Orthotics, Inc.
• Gregory Woods, Corporate IQ, Inc.
• Alfred Dyson, Dyson Engineering Services
• Rita Snelling, Expression Embroidery LLC.
• Kelly Walker, Furniture Depot, Inc.
• Tony Okhiria, Labfour, Inc.
• Aserlean Dotson, Lynn’s Got It Going On
• Michael Steven Moore, Moorementum, Inc.
• Tom T. Trentlage, Neighborhood Pro Builders, Inc.
• Debbie Jamison, Private First Class Driving Academy
• Barbara Knight, Right Resource Management Group
• Mary Smith, Sam’s Video Production, Inc.
