News

Micro-Businesses Turn To Federal Outreach Programs

Over 25% Of Entrepreneurs Utilize Services Offered By The Federal Government

Washington, D.C., February 18, 2009 – The self-employed are speaking out about their support for federal small business programs and hoping the Obama Administration is listening. In a recent online poll by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), an overwhelming majority of business owners (80%) want the new president to improve and expand existing federal small business programs.

Over one-quarter of entrepreneurs have utilized services offered by the federal government, despite the dwindling resources of many small business programs. For years, the NASE has been a supporter of federal outreach that consistently and effectively aids the self-employed and micro-businesses community. Funding for SBA programs, such as Women’s Business Centers and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), has faced drastic cutbacks over the past several years.

As indicated by the poll, the most popular programs offered by the federal government are the SBA Business Loans (Basic 7(a) loan, Micro-Loan, 504 loan), SBDCs, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and Women’s Business Centers.

Methodology:
Posted in the members-only portal on the NASE Web site and advertised in the NASE’s eNewsletter, the survey was available for members to take in January 2009. About 200 NASE Members opted-in to the non-scientific survey and members were prohibited from taking it more than once.