Accion News:
Accion and Groupon Team Up to Help Businesses Rebuild Post-Sandy
By Accion U.S. Network Blog
In response to Hurricane Sandy, Accion and Groupon have partnered again to support small business owners as they recover from the storm. From reconstruction and equipment purchase to inventory and working capital, Accion’s microloans can help get businesses back up and running.
Karl’s Sausage Kitchen holds ribbon-cutting at new location in Peabody
By Ryan Mooney, Boston.com
After opening for business more than two months ago, owners Anita and Bob Gokey held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony today at the new location of Karl’s Sausage Kitchen. The Gokey’s were able to make the move using $17,000 from the Samuel Adams “Brewing the American Dream” program.
By Accion U.S. Network Blog
Accion and Univision are partnering to present the Ideas en Acción event series as part of Univision’s Plan Prosperidad campaign and The Latin America Idea Partnership. To access this same blog post in Spanish click here.
Sam Adams–This beer not only tastes good, it does good
By Accion U.S. Network Blog
In a series of recent media interviews, Jim, along with Brewing the American Dream (BTAD) program participants, explains BTAD and the positive impact the program is having on food and beverage businesses from coast-to-coast.
Local Small Business Gives Out Free Tacos to Those affected by Sandy
By Accion East and Online
Tracie Lee and Wayne Surber from Lonestar Taco didn’t waste much time after Hurricane Sandy rampaged through their city. On November 1, a couple of days after the storm hit, Wayne and Tracie, packed their car and headed to Lower Manhattan to feed those who were hungry.
Industry News:
Facebook Gifts Now Supports Charitable Donations
By Chloe Albanesius, PCMag
Facebook today launched a new feature that allows you to make charitable contributions through Facebook Gifts. The test feature is launching with about a dozen partners, including the American Red Cross, Blue Star Families, Boys & Girls Club of America, DonorsChoose.org, Girls Inc., Kiva, Livestrong, Oxfam America, RAINN, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Water.org.
Small-business borrowing drops in September
By Ann Saphir, Reuters
Lending to small U.S. businesses plunged in September to the lowest level in 14 months, according to a report on Thursday, declining just as the U.S. central bank launched its latest round of monetary stimulus to encourage borrowing and spending.
“On Small Business”—Washington Post Blog
By Washington Post
Every other week, On Small Business reaches out to a panel of entrepreneurs for answers to the most pressing questions facing small business owners.
Bleeding Competitiveness: Americas New Immigrant Entrepreneurs — Then and Now
By Vivek Wadhwa, Forbes
A new Kauffman Foundation study finds that the number of high-tech, immigrant-founded startups—a critical source of fuel for the U.S. economy—has stagnated and is on the verge of decline.
With the election over, what small business owners can expect from President Obama’s 2nd term
By Associated Press, The Washington Post
President Barack Obama’s re-election to a second term takes away some of the uncertainty that small business owners have been carrying around. The question now is whether he can satisfy those who say he hasn’t done enough to help them expand and create jobs.
Small Business Funding: Where To Go When The Bank Says No
By Andy Meek, Forbes
Service businesses make up a significant part of the economy, especially with laid off workers and other corporate refuges setting up shop as consultants. But try getting a loan to fund one.
Hurricane Sandy Industry News:
Sandy’s small business victims: We don’t want loans!
By Stacy Cowley, CNN
“Most of us are deeply overextended as it is,” said Monica Byrne, the co-owner of local restaurant Home/Made. “We’re all shut down. We have staff we can’t pay. We really need some support that’s not about loans.”
Banks extend fee waivers for storm-hit customers
By The Associated Press, CNBC
Some of the nation’s biggest banks have extended temporary waivers on a variety of fees and late charges for residents of states hit hard by Superstorm Sandy.
Small-Business Disaster-Loan Demand Soars After Sandy
By Deborah Cohen, The Huffington Post
As the storm wreaked havoc and caused billions in damages along the Eastern Seaboard and beyond, companies large and small now are scrambling to pare their losses. Small businesses – most lacking risk-management departments along with staff to handle insurance claims or secure financing for rebuilding – are having a tough time. Owners say they are juggling the restoration of business services with attempts to obtain much needed capital.
Four Stories of Small Businesses Surviving After Sandy
By The Wall Street Journal
Superstorm Sandy has come and gone, but it has left a lasting impact on the owners of millions of small businesses. Many were forced to close due to power outages and flooding. Some have yet to reopen. Water and wind damaged inventories, furniture, walls and electrical systems beyond repair. In a month-long multimedia project, The Wall Street Journal will explore the realities of business survival in the wake of disaster.