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SBA Launches New 100% Guarantee ARC Loan Program on June 15

Lutz VAMC Will Not Allow Medical Marijuana In Hospital.

VA Hires 530 New Claims Processors To Handle GI Bill Applications

Michigan's Disabled American Veterans' Offices Set For Closure Given Four-Week Reprieve.

USAVETBIZ to Urge Congress for Government-Wide Preference Contracting and Set-Aside Programs for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Heroes in Helmets Family Fun Walk

Week of 25 May 2009

VA Announces Recovery Spending
Includes $250 Payment to Eligible Veterans

Small businesses suffering financial hardship as a result of the slow economy may be eligible to receive temporary relief to keep their doors open and get their cash flow back on track through to a new loan program announced by SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.

Beginning June 15, SBA will start guaranteeing America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loans. ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying debt. ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA, and have no SBA fees associated with them.

"These ARC loans can provide the critical capital and support many small businesses need to make it through these tough economic times," said Administrator Mills. "Together with other provisions of the Recovery Act, ARC loans will free up capital and put more money in the hands of small business owners when they need it the most. This will help viable small businesses continue to grow and thrive and create new jobs in communities across the country."

As part of the Recovery Act, the ARC program was created as a no-interest, deferred payment loan to help small businesses that have a history of good performance, but as a result of the tough economy, are struggling to make debt payments.

ARC loans will be disbursed within a period of up to six months and will provide funds to be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debt including mortgages, term and revolving lines of credit, capital leases, credit card obligations and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities. Repayment will not begin until 12 months after the final disbursement. Borrowers don’t have to pay interest on ARC loans. After the 12-moth deferral period, borrowers will pay back the loan principal over a period of five years.

ARC loans will be made by commercial lenders, not SBA directly. For more information on ARC loans, visit:

sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html

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Lutz VAMC Will Not Allow Medical Marijuana In Hospital.

The Saginaw (MI) News (5/17, Burns) reported, "The policy of Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Saginaw regarding Michigan's new medical marijuana laws is: Keep it in your car. VA hospitals will not write recommendations that patients receive marijuana and will not allow consumption or possession on the premises, said Carrie L. Seward, public affairs officer for the hospital." Seward "said violators will 'probably get a courtesy warning ... but they should leave it in their car or it should not be on the premises."

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VA Hires 530 New Claims Processors To Handle GI Bill Applications.

Tom Philpott, in a piece for Stars and Stripes (5/16), writes, "The Obama administration is taking steps to reconcile ambitious campaign promises with real world budget challenges on two key issues for veterans: advance funding for VA health care and expansion of concurrent receipt for disabled retirees. Some progress on both fronts is promised this year even if the administration and a supportive Congress might not deliver the swift and complete victories advocates expect. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs says it is getting 3000 applications a day for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits from veterans and current service members. ... VA has hired 530 new GI Bill claim processors, all of whom are going through training. ... Patrick W. Dunne, VA under secretary for benefits, added that the department is 'doing everything possible' to encourage veterans who hope to use GI Bill benefits this fall to apply as soon as possible."

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Michigan's Disabled American Veterans' Offices Set For Closure Given Four-Week Reprieve.

The Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) (5/16, Davis) reports, The Disabled American Veterans Battle Creek office was to close Friday because of state budget cuts, but it and the six other field offices in Michigan received a temporary reprieve. David Martin, the sole employee at the Battle Creek office, said he learned just after noon on Friday that the office will remain open on a part-time basis through June 12. The office acts as an advocate, assisting southwestern Michigan veterans with medical claims, compensation claims and other issues. Starting Monday, instead of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the office at the Veterans Administration Medical Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for four more weeks. ... The Disabled American Veterans' offices are one the casualties of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's recent $349 million executive-order cut, which sliced more than $2.3 million from Michigan's Department of Military and Veteran Affairs' budget. Resulting cuts to the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other veteran’s organizations is prompting a protest.

The Saginaw News (5/16) reports, "Veterans service groups fear a $1 million state budget cut will mean layoffs of field service representatives that could delay attempts by former military members to file claims. ... The reductions have meant a 25 percent cut to the $4 million that 11 veterans service organizations share in state funding, including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, among others, the groups said. They say the $4 million the state gives the service organizations has brought back more than $330 million in benefits to veterans. Veterans plan to protest the cuts Thursday at the state Capitol."

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USAVETBIZ to Urge Congress for Government-Wide Preference Contracting & Set-Aside Programs for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

National Poll of Vets in Federal Business Provides Clear Marching Orders

WASHINGTON, DC | May 14, 2009 – The United States Association of Veterans in Business (USAVETBIZ) has announced that it will take the lead in championing an historic Federal initiative and seeks the support of all Veteran Service Organizations and the general public to the campaign. "New law is needed that clearly finds and declares that military Veterans have earned and deserve preference and priority consideration in the award of government small business contracts and subcontracts,” says Richard D. Ramirez, President of USAVETBIZ. “No group of American citizens is more deserving of preference opportunity to do business with the United States of America than the men and women who have defended her –nobody. More and more military Veterans mirror the great melting pot of America and they must be afforded enhanced opportunity based on their service and sacrifice to our country.

"It’s time to broaden the program, and solidify once and for all mandatory first consideration of all qualified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB’s). The government’s current policies regarding preference and set-aside contracting only for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) is insufficient and not inclusive. Veterans need to be the Nation’s first choice for federal contracts and other federally funded small business contracting opportunity. Above all other federal socio-economic groups and programs, doing business with military Veterans small business owners must take top priority."

USAVETBIZ completed a national survey of VOSB and SDVOSB engaged in the federal marketplace. Ninety-six percent (96%) of all responders supported this inclusive initiative. "It’s time to end the opportunity divide between Veteran small business owners who are service-disabled and those that are not. Congress created the divide arbitrarily excluding preference and set-aside opportunity for the vast majority of Veterans seeking federal work," says Ramirez, himself a two tour service-disabled Vietnam Veteran.

"Our country is losing military Veterans at a rate three times greater than the rate of current and projected discharges of men and women from active duty military service. The population of military Veterans and Vets in business is in steep decline. We must be sure that the landscape of federal preference opportunity for all military Veteran small business owners is secured for the future, now. It’s all about Commerce for the Defenders – business opportunity for the great men and women who put their lives on the line to preserve our cultural and economic way of life."

USAVETBIZ is a non-profit membership trade Association dedicated to enhancing awareness of and opportunity for veterans in business in all channels of commerce, public and private. More information about USAVETBIZ is available at www.USAVETBIZ.org

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Heroes in Helmets Family Fun Walk

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nearly 200,000 Michigan residents, military and civilian combined, are living with a permanent disability resulting from TBI. Here’s your chance to raise pledges for the Heroes in Helmets Family Fun Walk and help make a difference in the lives of brain injury survivors throughout Michigan.

For more information please call the BIAMI at 810.229.5880.

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FYI Archives

01 March 2010
Hiring to Expand Veterans' Services

Be Wary of Advance Fee Loan Scams

State Rolls Out Quarterly Bid List

White House: Stimulus Funds Targeted Upgrades At Saginaw VA Hospital.

25 January 2010
Worst yet to come in Michigan? Small Business bankruptcies soar in 2009

Detroit Companies Graduate From SBA’s ‘Mini-MBA’ Program

Taking the Myths Out of Four Funding Fantasies

GAO Report Details Fraud in Procurement

23 November 2009
GAO Report Cites Fraud in SDVOB Contracting

Detroit Companies Graduate From SBA’s ‘Mini-MBA’ Program

Goldman Sachs Small Biz Program Sparks Interest

Healthy Business Credit Is Demystified

09 November 2009
SBA Lending Down Sharply in Michigan

Funding Cuts at Vets Homes Sparks Rebuke

Building Your Biz Credit

Sagging Economy Prompts Entrepreneurial Spirit

Getting That Elusive Biz Loan

09 October 2009
Six Ways to Land Venture Funding

24 August 2009
SBA ASSISTING SMALL BUSINESSES

DEPUTY SECRETARY CITES PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE SECTOR

VETERAN BUSINESS NEWS GAZETTE

05 August 2009
DINGELL CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING SITUATION AT VA HOSPITAL IN DETROIT

PANEL AGREES ON NEED TO REFORM VETERANS’ DISABILITY SYSTEM

PHAMPHLETS AND FACT SHEETS

GI BILL INFORMATION

BENEFIT PHAMPHLETS

20 July 2009
Getting Small Business Contracts to Small Businesses

Volunteers Attend To Landscaping At Arlington Cemetary

Operation Comfort Warriors: Our Pride and Purpose

22 June 2009
A Different Kind of Boot Camp

GAO ruling assailed; Vets Urged to Act Quickly to Overturn

ARC money will go fast, from the Tampa Bay Business Journal... Small Business Administration Bridge Loans Likely to go Quickly

05 June 2009
House Bill calls for placing SDVOB program under 8a

Senators prepare for battle over Alaska native contracting

Lending up; much left to accomplish, says SBA Chief

25 May 2009
SBA Launches New 100% Guarantee ARC Loan Program on June 15

Lutz VAMC Will Not Allow Medical Marijuana In Hospital.

VA Hires 530 New Claims Processors To Handle GI Bill Applications

Michigan's Disabled American Veterans' Offices Set For Closure Given Four-Week Reprieve.

USAVETBIZ to Urge Congress for Government-Wide Preference Contracting and Set-Aside Programs for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Heroes in Helmets Family Fun Walk

27 April 2009
VA Announces Recovery Spending Includes $250 Payment to Eligible Veterans

VA Officials Barred From Testifying Before Subcommittee

New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May

23 March 2009
American Legion Commander Praises Obama’s Change in Plan

Open Letter from VA Secretary

Congress to Agencies: Don’t Shortchange Vets on Contracting

16 March 2009
Is Stimulus harmful To SDVOSB’s?

Vets object to billing private insurance for service injuries

Agencies to direct stimulus funds to veteran-owned small businesses

09 March 2009
Lessons Learned on the Farm Still Apply to Small Businesses

Senator Lieberman Addresses Rumored Tricare Cuts

02 March 2009
Powerball is Stimulus Ticket?

Bid4Michigan—The New Name to Remember!

How Small Business Will Benefit From Obama's Stimulus

Point, Counterpoint On Stimulus Impact On Small Businesses

23 February 2009
Camp Lejeune Water Study Underway

Some Non-profits Shortchange Troops,
Watchdog Group Says

16 February 2009
Military Veterans Land More than
$250 Million in SBA Loans

SBA’s Bill Elmore on Patriot Express Reaching $250 Million

Landrieu and Snowe Highlight Key Small Business Provisions of
Economic Recovery Package
Renew call for elevating SBA Administrator to Cabinet-level status

09 February 2009
Ever Dream of Starting a Business?

Veterans Inaugural Ball Scam Investigated

02 Februrry 2009
Stimulus Bill Aims to Boost SBA Lending

D.C. Restaurant Apologizes to Marines