New York SBDC Research Network

From TIME magazine : A host of planned funding cuts to federal agencies, reported last week by The Hill, are part of the Trump administration's desire to eliminate roughly $10.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years -- nearly all of the federal government's discretionary spending. Yet Trump has vowed not to cut entitlements, such as Medicare and Social Security, and promised to beef up military spending, which represents the lion's share of federal spending -- making it hard for him to do more than chip away at the margins of the nearly $20 trillion national debt. What, then, would the reported cuts accomplish? The answer appears to be defunding a number of projects seen as liberal darlings -- including groups aimed at preserving and supporting the environment, civil rights protections, the arts, minority-owned businesses, and public broadcasting. Minority Business Development Agency Budget: $36 million Cost per American: $0.11 This federal agency helps min...

The federal government contracts out millions of dollars in goods and services every year, with a percentage of these contracts set aside just for small businesses to bid on. The General Services Administration's  Forecast of Contracting Opportunities Tool  enables would-be government contractors to  view potential upcoming federal contract opportunities  at GSA and several other federal agencies. Search this national database by agency, location, industry code and more.  The latest issue of  Philanthropy News Digest  is now available. The latest issue of  Philanthropy News Digest  RFP Bulletin  is now available. The latest issue of  PND Connections  is now available.

Source: Government Accountability Office Economic, environmental, and health concerns have spurred interest in "green building" — construction and maintenance practices designed to make efficient use of resources, reduce environmental problems, and provide long-term financial and health benefits. Federal laws and executive orders direct agencies to meet green building standards in federal buildings and to foster green building in the nonfederal sector; the latter includes private, state, local, and tribal entities and accounts for the majority of the nation's buildings. GAO was asked to (1) identify current initiatives by federal agencies to foster green building in the nonfederal sector and (2) determine what is known about the results of these initiatives. Full report (PDF)

Several of President Obama’s open government initiative data websites are scheduled to go dark in May due to lack of funding. Funding will run out on April 20 for IT Dashboard; Data.gov , which provides enhanced access to publicly available federal datasets; and Paymentaccuracy.gov , which tracks improper payments from government programs. Other open government public data sites scheduled to go dark after July 30 are USASpending.gov , which provides detailed information on federal contracts, and Apps.gov , a site that tracks how federal agencies use free web applications. More information about the proposed cuts is available here.

"What was once known colloquially as Cash for Clunkers has been given the official government name of CARS – Car Allowance Rebate System . As soon as President Obama signed the bill, scammers were already thinking up ways to take advantage of the system. Here’s an explanation of how the new law works and how you can take advantage of it legally." Also From the official website - primary color, not shockingly, is green. While the CARS Act makes transactions on and after July 1 potentially eligible for credits under the CARS program, interested dealers and consumers may want to wait until all of the detailed issues that must be addressed in the implementing regulations are resolved and the final rule is issued. Issuance will occur around July 23. Important Things to Know *Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date *Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify *Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo...

If you have a regular need for the forms issued by the SBA (or any other Federal government agency), then bookmark the Federal Forms Catalog at Forms.gov . Note in the left-hand margin, under the heading "Frequently Used Forms," that there's a link titled "Small Business Forms". All of them emanate from SBA. All of the links lead to a PDF version of the form, many of which can be filled out online. Elsewhere, I can envision how quick access to IRS forms would be useful to certain clients as well. I took a quick spin around SBA's website, but couldn't readily find a link there to the forms they've issued. Keep it handy.