After financing, marketing tends to be the greatest need for small businesses; and Karen Carr-Crawford delivers expertise in implementing marketing strategies that work.  She has helped physicians, restaurants, and numerous other small businesses develop business plans and marketing materials that produce clarity in the client's message and reach the desired target markets.

Click here to read the full article.

Government Procurement:

Changes to the 8(a) Business 

Development Program

By: Christina Jones, Government Procurement Consultant

The SBA 8(a) Program acquired its namesake from Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, which was adopted by Congress in 1974 to help small companies owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged persons to develop their businesses.   The nine-year business development program was designed by the SBA to assist such firms in business growth by  "setting-aside" contracts  where only 8(a) certified firms are allowed to compete, develop mentor-protégé' alliances, allow access to sole source contracts for which they are not required to compete, and provide business counseling and technical training.