Government and Economy

SBA Expands Emerging 200 Initiative to 15 Cities as First Group of Executives Complete Innovative New Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s innovative Emerging 200 initiative will be expanded in the spring of 2009 to include five new cities – Detroit, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, and Portland, Ore. – SBA Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah announced today.

New Action by Treasury and Federal Reserve Will Support Small Business Lending

Late last week, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve announced important details on how the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) will work. This announcement is good news for SBA lenders and secondary market stakeholders.

Last-minute Shoppers Won't Save Christmas
Shoppers hit stores and malls the day before Christmas, looking for last-minute items and searching for good deals, but for retailers, the season ended long ago.

Management and Financial Issues

Insights on Entrepreneurship
Iconic entrepreneur, Richard Branson, discusses the building of a successful brand in a conversation hosted by OPEN Forum. Branson also discusses how business owners can lead in tough times and why he believes "It's the small businesses that are going to get America back on its feet again."

Think Before Hiring Your First Employee
Business Week columnist Karen E. Klein explains what a small business should do before hiring its first employee.

Technology Issues

Hello, My Friend
Managing friends and keeping track of activity can be a real game changer for individuals and marketers alike.

Small Firms Win Space Station Cargo Contracts
Orbital Sciences of Dulles, Va., and SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif. have won a space race against giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing to land a milestone $3.5 billion contract to resupply the International Space Station after the space shuttle retires in 2010.

Benefits and Labor Issues

Obama Labor Appointee to Bolster Unions, Enforcement, Training
The president-elect calls Rep. Hilda Solis 'a champion of our middle class' and 'an advocate for everyday people.'

Pitfalls Arise in Negotiations on Starting Salaries
Feeling the pressure to land top candidates, recruiters and hiring managers sometimes yield to starting salary demands that may later touch off wage discrimination claims.

Sales and Marketing

Branding or Connecting: How About Both?
Tips and examples for using social media platforms for creating brand connections.

A Curmudgeonly Look at Holiday E-Cards
Cute employee photos and a generic greeting don't cut it anymore.