Women in Business - House Passes Bill Supporting Small Business Innovation
House Passes Bill Supporting Small Business Innovation
The House on Wednesday approved legislation reauthorizing programs that provide federal support for new technologies emerging from private-sector small businesses. H.R. 5819 reauthorizes through 2010 the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Research programs. The bill was passed 368-43."Innovation is crucial for maintaining America’s competitive lead in this global economy,"said Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.)."SBIR and STTR are good economic stimulus programs that support research and innovation among our country’s leading job creators - small businesses."The programs make up the largest source of federal support for private-sector technological innovation, providing more than $2.3 billion annually to small, high-tech entrepreneurial companies that are creating revolutionary new technologies. The legislation updates the programs, including adding the requirement that agencies with SBIR or STTR budgets greater than $50 million create an advisory board to review the program quarterly and recommend improvements. Rep. Steve Chabot of
Calendar of Events
MAY 1 Financial and legal issues workshop for an emerging high-tech firm. The event, held at Teqcorner in Tysons Corner, Va., from 6:15 p.m to 9 p.m. is free for MIT Enterprise Forum members and $25 for non-members. The speakers include lawyers, investment bankers and accountants. 2 Sustainable Business Incubator at Fairleigh Dickinson University is hosting, with other entrepreneurial groups, a day-long affair in Madison, N.J. focusing on growing the next generation of green ventures. 2 Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation will host a 12:30 p.m. talk by editor Diana Furchtgott-Roth on the new book Overcoming Barriers to Entrepreneurship. She and her colleagues aim to illustrate how policy and economic environment can hinder business owners and suggest what can be done to help them. The event will be held at Heritage headquarters in Washington and more information can be found online. 4-7 National Business Incubation Association’s 22nd annual conference
Preston’s Confirmation Process Underway
The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a hearing on Tuesday to examine whether Steven Preston, the current head of the Small Business Administration, should take over the reins at the nation’s beleaguered housing department. Preston is the only witness before the morning panel. Administration and Hill sources have told the Small Business Blog that SBA Deputy Administrator Jovita Carranza is expected to take over as head of the SBA if Preston is confirmed as head of the Housing and Urban Development Department. Even if Preston gets the nod from the banking panel, he must be confirmed by the full Senate. Some Hill sources have said the confirmation process is likely to be"prickly"and"contentious."While Preston was well received on the Hill during his nomination process to take over the head of the SBA, he is expected to face tough questions next week from lawmakers who want to make
