Little, Leslie, SSgt

The University of Pennsylvania?s Wharton School of Business, offers free Business Management classes to all Veterans.
Last year I attended seminars and workshops, provided free of charge, due to my Veteran status.
Here is the School?s 2010 schedule.

Small Business Administration Webinars - ongoing throughout 2010
The Wharton SBDC is pleased to bring you notification of events by our partner organizations.

The U.S. Government is the largest procurer of goods and services in the world spending $400 to $500 billion annually. During the fiscal year 2008, the federal government awarded in excess of $93 billion in prime contracts to small businesses and $83.2 billion for the fiscal year 2007.

In order to help small businesses participate in this market, the U.S. Small Business Administration will be hosting a series of webinars on doing business with the federal government. These webinars are designed to provide prospective small businesses an understanding of the process of engaging federal agencies as clients, as well as provide the tools needed to penetrate this market.

Upcoming Topics:
? February 16, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: CCR Registration Process
? March 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Know the Rules (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
? April: Marketing Strategies
? May: Preparing Your Offer
? June: Getting Paid
? July: Certification Programs: 8 (a) Business Development and the HUBZone Programs
? August: Contract Award/Access to Capital/The Certificate of Competency Program
? September: Joint Ventures and Teaming Arrangements
? October: GSA Schedules
? November: Veterans Programs
? December: Subcontracting with Large Business Primes

These webinars will feature participation by key federal agencies explaining how to market to these organizations. Confirmed participants include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, General Services Administration, and Defense Logistics Agency. Other feautured presenters will include representatives from the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, which can provide assistance to small businesses in this market.

To access these seminars, you will need a computer with Internet access and a telephone.

To register, please contact Paula Watts (paula.watts@sba.gov, 610-382-3086); George Murray (george.murray@sba.gov, 610-382-3083); or John Banks (john.banks@sba.gov, 610-382-3087).

Social Venture Institute - February 26 -27, 2010
Learn about new Business Opportunities in the Green Economy
Local entrepreneurs are invited to register for the Social Venture Institute (SVI) where they will learn how to gain a competitive advantage for their business while creating positive social and environmental impact in their communities. The conference will take place February 26 -27, 2010 at The Hub, Cira Center. The Social Venture Institute has sold-out for the past two years and entrepreneurs are advised to register soon to ensure their spot at the conference.
Over the past eight years, over 900 entrepreneurs have been trained through the SVI. Thanks to generous support from the Prudential Foundation, 80 scholarships are available for minority-owned businesses to attend SVI at a reduced rate of $40 ($140 off regular registration). The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, February 12, 2010.
You can learn more about the Social Venture Institute and scholarship opportunities at www.sbnphiladelphia.org. Registration for the conference is available online at www.SVI2010.eventbrite.com
The Wharton SBDC is pleased to serve on the planning committee for the 2010 Social Venture Institute.

First Step: Starting A Small Business - offered Monthly; next session starts February 8!
Wharton School, Huntsman Hall

The First Step provides you with the tools toXXevalXXuate the challenges and feasibility of your business idea through research and planning. This two-part workshop moves at a quick pace and focuses on solutions to specific issues confronting people considering starting their own business including:
? Personal issues of being an entrepreneur
? Financing a business
? The business planning process
? Marketing mechanics of starting a business
? Regulations governing a business
? Environmental, health, and safety considerations when starting a business

Fee is $50.00

WSBDC workshops are offered at no cost to veterans. To register as a veteran, please call (215) 898-4861.
Register for this Workshop!


What can the Wharton SBDC Do For Your Business?
Introduction to Wharton SBDC Consulting and Educational Programs
Join us via toll-free conference or in-person meeting to learn about how our consulting and business planning programs can help you to start, grow, and prosper.
The Introductory Meeting via conference call consists of a one-hour session. The on-site Introductory Meetings consist of two sessions. These meetings initiate the working relationship between our clients and the Wharton SBDC consultants and staff, and help to define goals and expectations. These meetings are open to both new and existing clients.
Register online for the conference call.
Register online for the on-site meeting.





Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Announces $27 Million in New Loans and Grant Financing

On January 27, Mayor Michael Nutter announced three new programs to assist Philadelphia's businesses. Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation is administering these programs on behalf of the City of Philadlephia
? Gap Financing: This program enables development projects that have already assembled a majority of their financing to move forward by providing "last in" funding. There is currently $4.5 million available for the program.
? Greenworks Loan Fund: This program is provided through a partnership between the City of Philadelphia, PIDC, and the Reinvestment Fund. It offers low cost capital to support energy efficient rehabilitation and new construction projects. Loans are anticiapted to range from approximately $100,000 to $1 Million. Priority will go to those projects that show the greatest potential for reducing energy use and creating jobs. There is currently $9 million in capital available for this program.
? Recovery Zone Facility Bonds: Recoery Zone Facility Bonds are a new class of tax-exempt private activity bonds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to enable for-profit comapnies to finance on a tax-exempt basis commercial, industrial and other property acquisition and development for business purposes.

More information on these programs as well as application materials can be found on PIDC's website at:
www.pidc-pa.org/DevelopmentOpportunities.asp