Small Business Association of Michigan

LANSING ? Barry Cargill, Vice President for Government Relations at the Small Business Association of Michigan, gave the 2004 Michigan Legislature a grade of C for its failure to restore Michigan?s fiscal solvency. ?And that?s probably being generous,? Cargill said. ?They evaded the tough decisions on cutting the budget and instead served up a stew

LANSING ? In the past 25 years, self-employment rates have increased 33 percent for women, 37 percent for blacks, and 15 percent for Latinos ? compared with a 10 percent increase for white self-employment and a 2.5 percent increase for male self-employment. The study was prepared by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small

LANSING ? Big businesses in Michigan has influence within government circles to shape legislation and the purchasing power to buy products and services at office warehouse prices. The Small Business Association of Michigan tries to give smaller businesses a seat at the same table. SBAM has some 6,000 members in all 83 Michigan counties and

SBA Technical Assistance Programs Help Record 2.44 Million Businesses LANSING -More than 2.44 million people interested in starting a business or expanding an existing one consulted with one of the U.S. Small Business Administration?s technical assistance programs during FY 2004, a record for the agency?s programs. ?The President?s small business agenda seeks to continue expanding

LANSING - Kevin Kaplan has joined SBAM as Director of Agent Relations. Kaplan will be responsible for working with independent insurance agents across the state, encouraging them to write their business with SBAM and offer SBAM?s COBRA and Section 125 programs. Kaplan is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He lives in Farmington Hills.

LANSING - The Small Business Association of Michigan has launched a full color monthly magazine to provide more reasons for current members to renew their dues and to woo new members to swell the ranks of a trade group that represents about 8,000 small businesses in every county of the state. The charter edition will

LANSING - A new survey shows eleven percent of small businesses in Michigan reported an increase in the number of employees in the second quarter, 3 points better than the year before. But on the flip side, only 22 percent plan to hire more employees over the next 12 months, down from 29 percent in

LANSING ? Since the start of the fiscal year, there has been record demand for loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, with average daily loan volume topping $50 million. From October 1 through October 22, SBA approved 6,215 loans worth $1.036 billion in its flagship 7(a) loan guarantee program. Net of carry-over loan

LANSING - The Small Business Association of Michigan said that small phone companies around Michigan have created some 5,000 jobs thanks to Michigan?s telecom policies, along with giving customers new choices for phone service that have led to lower costs, better service and new innovations ? this despite SBC decision to punish Michigan for its