The SBA Has A Mission: The 3 Cs

Hello from Washington D.C., where I am covering National Small Business Week.  Earlier today I attended the keynote address of SBA Administrator Karen Mills (pictured below giving the keynote). One of the most impressive parts of her talk was the description of the SBA’s mission for small businesses — she called it the “3 Cs.” Now, if you’re an Internet entrepreneur, you may be thinking you know the 3 Cs.  Back in 1999, Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Computer, defined the  3 Cs of e-commerce as:  “content, community and commerce.” But that’s not what it means when it comes to the SBA.  The 3 Cs refers to the Small Business Administration’s mission to provide small businesses with: C apital C ontracts C ounseling I don’t think this description is a departure from what the SBA has been doing.  What is different is that the SBA seems to be getting better at articulating  its mission.  It used to be tough to figure out what the SBA did.  Now the message now is cogent and clearer. So how is the SBA doing on each of the 3 Cs when it comes to mainstreet small businesses?  Here’s what Administrator Mills reported: Capital: SBA loan volume has now surpassed pre-credit-crunch levels. Contracts: With the support of the Vice President the SBA has reached out to small businesses all across the nation, with matchmaking events and other activities that drove $8 Billion (29% of Recovery Act funds) into the hands of small businesses. There’s also renewed emphasis o women-owned businesses:  emphasis on getting more contracts into women.

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