New Equity Daily News

Small businesses win bigger share of federal contracts

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:30:30 +0000

According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. government paid small firms $96.8 billion in contracts last year. This is an increase from 2008’s award of $93.2 billion in small business contracts. The government paid small businesses for defense work, scientific research, technological support and janitorial services. The Small Business Administration (SBA) [...]

Big savings for small business owners

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:30:08 +0000

The Miami Herald’s Barry Sharpe offers small business owners advice on cutting business expenses and saving money. First, Sharpe suggests looking at your property insurance to determine whether you are over insured. Fire, accident, theft, natural disasters are normally included under your insurance coverage; but often times business owners elect to cover office [...]

Quench owner grows into grocer with new South Side café-boutique

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:30:53 +0000

Crain’s Brigid Sweeney reports on a Chicago restaurateur’s business expansion to an area lacking food options. Quentin Love owns the Quench chain of healthy fast-food restaurants in the city’s South and West sides. Love recently expanded his chain to include Fresh Family Foods grocery store in the Chatham neighborhood at 336 East 95th. [...]

City Hall expands key small-biz loan program

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:30:08 +0000

The city of Chicago will infuse an additional $2.15 million in grants into its Small Business Development Loan Program. The grants will go to the city’s five new lending partners. In addition, the city will lower the program’s minimum loan amount from $10,000 to $2,000 after learning that many businesses were in need [...]

Last call for ARC loans; program short of goal

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:30:23 +0000

The Wall Street Journal reports that the American Recovery Capital program (ARC) will expire at the end of the month. The program was launched last year as part of the stimulus bill to help address small business capital needs. The intent of the program was to help 10,000 small businesses survive short-term [...]

The missing piece of hiring puzzle? Customers

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:30:17 +0000

The Chicago Tribune’s Gail Marks Jarvis examines why small businesses are not hiring. According to Jarvis, the impact of the November elections and recent healthcare reform has often been blamed for employer unwillingness to hire. She points to a much more tangible culprit. “Unless companies see customers showing up in greater numbers, [...]

Where to find small business grants

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:30:03 +0000

One of the biggest obstacles for a start-up is finding capital. As an alternative to borrowing money, a small business owner can turn to the government for a grant. It may take some work to find small business grants, but the payoff will be worth the effort. Free money for your small [...]

Inner-city businesses get chance to meet potential backers

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:30:48 +0000

The Small Business Administration, Bank of America and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City have partnered to help small business owners in underfunded urban areas access capital. Their Inner City Capital Connection program will offer inner-city small businesses a chance to meet with potential lenders at events in New York, on October 12th, [...]

Governor Quinn highlights Illinois small business tax credit

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:30:30 +0000

According to a recent press release, the Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit may allow small businesses to take advantage of a tax credit for new hires. The $2,500 tax credit will be for new jobs created between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. “If a business is deciding whether to [...]

Commercial real estate gains for first time in 2 years: Study

Chinwe Onyeagoro — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:30:13 +0000

Reuters reports that for the first time in more than two years, U.S. commercial real estate prices posted a quarterly gain of 2.2 percent. According to the Investment Property Databank US Quarterly Property Index (IPD), between the first quarters of 2008 and 2010 the average commercial property price declined by a third of its [...]