Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice for America's 33 million small businesses in President Biden's Cabinet, announced that the agency will host a free, virtual National Cyber Summit on Oct. 26, 2022. This cybersecurity forum, a first for the agency, will help introduce American small businesses to tools, tips, and resources to bolster their cybersecurity infrastructure in addition to exploring new trends and challenges entrepreneurs are increasingly facing.
"America's small businesses are pivoting to digital technologies and online strategies at historic rates to reach new customers and improve operational efficiencies, but that pivot has also exposed them to significant new threats from cyberattacks,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “Our SBA team has mobilized to support them against these potentially disruptive threats with cybersecurity resources and trainings across our resource partner networks, as well as through our recently launched Small Business Digital Alliance. Launching the SBA’s first annual Cybersecurity Summit will help us build on that work and ensure America's 33 million small businesses and innovative startups can pivot safely online and grow resilient businesses."
“We are energized to bring actual solutions to the table for America’s small businesses, which continue to inspire us all with hope and resilience,” said SBA Associate Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Mark Madrid.
The summit comes on the heels of the recently announced awardees for the SBA’s new pilot program created to help emerging small businesses steel themselves against cyber-attacks.
Registration for the event is open to all and free. Sign up at www.bit.ly/SBACyberSummit.
About the SBA’s Inaugural Small Business Cyber Summit
The inaugural summit will feature various speakers, including SBA Administrator Guzman, SBA Associate Administrator Madrid, SBA Resource Partners, Small Business Development Centers, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, business chambers, state government partners, experts from the public/private sectors, major technology platforms, and award-winning business coaches.
Comprised of digestible and compact segments, attendees will have the opportunity to network and access practical tips, problem-solving strategies, industry trends, threat avoidance, and small business testimonials in order to learn how to help small business owners defend themselves against cyber-attacks.
About the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program
Cyberattacks are a growing threat to small businesses and the U.S. economy. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the cost of cybercrimes against the small business community reached $2.4 billion in 2021.
Small businesses are attractive targets because they have information that cybercriminals want, and they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses.
According to a SBA survey, 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack. Yet many businesses cannot afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity, or do not know where to begin.
The federal budget for the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program for 2021-2022 is $3,000,000. SBA awarded three awards, with no single award exceeding $1 million. The period of performance for this award is one-year (12 months).
This week, SBA launched a new educational module for Ascent, a digital training platform that helps women entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. The new module, “Growing Globally” explores ways women entrepreneurs can expand their small businesses into new, international markets.
Did you know the nearly five million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States contribute more than $800 billion to the American economy annually? During Hispanic Heritage Month, learn about resources to help Hispanic entrepreneurs start, grow, expand and recover businesses.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) prioritizes assistance for those small businesses that are starting to export, already exporting or in the export supply chain. These small businesses may need additional funding to acquire equipment, retool, new facilities, refinance debt on unreasonable terms or acquired another business to achieve their export sales potential. International expansion can provide small business with substantial growth opportunities, but it can also present additional risk factors for their lenders. The SBA has designed programs for these development opportunities and at the same time minimize lender risk by providing a 90% guarantee.
Please join us to learn how your bank can participate in these programs. The International Trade Loan and Export Express programs that provide lenders the opportunity to assist direct and indirect exporters with long term financing. This training will cover the following topics:
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT
The Organizational Types and Other Considerations for a Small Business module provides an overview of business organizational types and is designed to help participants to understand how selecting the correct organizational type can benefit their business.
Objectives
Identify general characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each of these organizational types for small businesses:
• Sole proprietorship
• Partnerships (general partnership, limited partnership and limited liability partnership)
• Limited liability company (LLC)
• C-corporation
Looking for help starting or managing your small business? We are teaming up with the SBA District Offices in North and South Dakota to offer Money Smart, a small business management series.
The Money Smart Series for Small Business provides a practical introduction to topics related to starting and managing a business. Developed jointly by SBA and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the curriculum consists of 13 modules.
Updates on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
Tuesday, October 4, 2022 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM CT
Translate the CMMC requirements into a language that manufacturers-not cybersecurity experts can understand. Provide an up-to-date dive into the CMMC practice families. Overview of requirements. We will also look at the new civil cyber-fraud initiative that will hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S. information or systems at risk. This webinar covers CMMC 2.0 Updates - changes to the cybersecurity requirements of DoD Suppliers.
After completing this training, you will be able to: • Explain the concept of time management and why is it important to a small business. • Explain the time management practices which are commonly employed by a small business, including:
Join SBA's webinar on October 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The webinar will feature a panel discussion with Gabe Esparza, Associate Administrator, SBA’s Office of International Trade; and small business owners Eduardo Ortiz of Coforma, LLC, in Washington, D.C. and Alejandro Ramirez of Universal Spartan, LLC, in Vine Grove, Kentucky.
The discussion will focus on financial wellness and the importance of equity and opportunity to help uplift and support Hispanic-owned small businesses. The panel will also discuss SBA initiatives and resources that support small business recovery, Hispanic-owned startups seeking to launch and help for existing Hispanic-owned small businesses as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world.
We’re excited to announce that this year’s National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) will take place on October 31-November 4! Each year the SBA during NVSBW celebrates, connects, and empowers service member, veteran, National Guard and Reserve, and military spouse entrepreneurs all week long. This year marks the ninth annual NVSBW.
Resource Partner News & Upcoming Events
Do you need a guide along your path to a creative career? Have you considered how a mentor could help you move forward as an inventor or entrepreneur?
Dr. Mayowa Awe, inStem Director, National Science and Technology Medals Foundation
Kate McCrery, Founder and CEO of Rhinebeck Ventures
David Price, CEO, The Safety Pouch
The Together in Innovation series shows how unique individuals in diverse teams of innovators combine their talents to create advances and enterprises they may never have considered on their own.
Join SD CEO West for an After Hours Mixer on Thursday, October 6th, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Creekside Bean & Vine in Spearfish. Early networking starts at 5:00 p.m. There is no cost to join us but please register so we know how many to expect!
Any questions about the After Hours Mixer, please call Carissa Hauck at 605.642.6435.
SD CEO West Women's Business Center uplifts women in business by providing opportunities to widen their professional networks, promote their business or organization, and network with other women.
Do you want to learn about free, valuable resources available to inventors and entrepreneurs? Are you eager to be inspired and informed by successful innovators? If so, join us on Wednesday, October 12, from 1-4 p.m. ET, for the USPTO’s “2022 Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program.”
This free event is open to all. Don't miss this chance to learn from successful Hispanic innovators about their creative and business journeys. You’ll also hear from experts about resources and funding that can help you on your own journey.
The “Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program” series is presented by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact HispanicInnovation@uspto.gov.
And don't forget: The USPTO offers inspirational and educational events, open to all, that feature successful innovators from a wide variety of backgrounds. Come learn about intellectual property, innovation, and valuable resources available to independent inventors, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented or underserved populations at our "Innovator events for everyone" webpage: www.uspto.gov/innovationforall.
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SBA South Dakota District Office
200 North Phillips Avenue, Suite L101 Sioux Falls, SD, 57104 Phone: 605-330-4243 www.sba.gov/sd @SBA_SouthDakota
