New York SBDC Research Network

1 day left to submit nominations for 2013 SBIR Tibbetts and Hall of Fame! Submit by 5 PM EST on January 31, 2013: Tibbetts Awards – companies and individuals and Hall of Fame Awards . 2013 SBIR Tibbetts Awards and SBIR Hall of Fame Awards to be presented in May The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for awards honoring the critical economic role small businesses play in federally funded research and development through SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Two awards will be given: the “Hall of Fame” award recognizing companies that have an extended period of extraordinary success of research, innovation, and product commercialization; and another, the “Tibbetts Award” with two categories, one for companies that have participated in the SBIR/STTR programs, and another for individuals who advocate on behalf of the programs. The Tibbetts Awards are named after Roland Tibbetts, who was instr

Raising money for any business in this tough economy isn’t easy. More owners are scrambling to attract new capital, and investors are holding tighter to their money, causing a major disconnect. Successful venture capital and private equity funds are only investing in 1 out of every 500 or so deals they see. Banks have cut back lending. Angel investors hammered in the 2008 market meltdown, lost their appetite for new deals while focusing on salvaging existing investments. However, you can raise the funds you need. You won’t get the very best terms and it will take you much longer than you thought. You may even have to retain an outside firm to help; but if it makes sense and you are fundable, you can get the deal done. More from the ASBDC HERE .

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a new web page and blog dedicated to educating small business owners about the Affordable Care Act. The new tools will serve as a gateway for small business owners connecting them with information provided by SBA’s federal partners responsible for implementing the law, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "The Affordable Care Act provides small business owners with access and opportunity to provide affordable health care options for their employees," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "SBA’s new Affordable Care Act web page and blog will serve as a resource for small business owners who want learn more about how to take advantage of these benefits." The Affordable Care Act has many beneficial measures specifically for small businesses, including slowing premium cost growth and increased access to quality, affordable health insurance. SBA’s new web page, www.sba.gov/heal

Many small businesses can’t afford or may not even require full time IT staff, but that doesn’t mean technology challenges don’t arise. Fortunately, there are many ways for small businesses to access IT expertise even without a full time technology expert on the payroll. Educating yourself on basic technology issues that affect small businesses can go a long way toward helping you navigate IT problems that arise. Many Small Business Development Centers offer free or low-cost technology training. You can also look into what other local business organizations and chambers of commerce have on tap in the realm of technology training. More from the ASBDC HERE .

Vol. 32, No. 1 The January 2013 issue of The Small Business Advocate reports on the IRS’s breakthrough announcement of the standard deduction option for home offices. Also covered are the Fish and Wildlife Service’s review of rules regarding critical habitats, an introduction to some of the new members of congress with small business backgrounds, four new research RFQs, and the Office of Economic Research’s FY 2012 annual report. In This Issue Entrepreneurs in the 113th Congress IRS Announces New Home Office Deduction Option Agencies Revisit Economic Analyses of Critical Habitats RFQs for New Research

What: The U.S. Census Bureau will hold an instructional webinar to promote response to the 2012 Economic Census. This webinar will feature reporting options available to businesses and other information for respondents, associations and the media. The economic census is the U.S. government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy. It provides accurate benchmark statistics that are fundamental building blocks of economic indicators, including the gross domestic product, monthly retail sales and the producer price index. The economic census gives businesses the information they need to make informed decisions that affect America's economy. Please dial in by phone to listen to a simultaneous audio conference while viewing the online presentation. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013; 1 p.m. (EST) Who: Charles Brady, chief, Customer and Respondent Outreach Branch, Economic Pla

he 2012-2013 flu season arrived earlier than usual, so it's time to prepare yourself, your business and your employees. Prevention is important for physical health, as it may impact your bottom line if your staff are out sick. These tips can help you avoid illness and maintain business continuity. More HERE .