SSBiN.ORG

Subject: SSBiN.org Update January, 2006

 

Your Update from the Saginaw Small Business information Network (SSBiN): Educational and informational  opportunities that we want you to be aware of.

See SSBiN at http://www.ssbin.org/. Please forward this message to your colleagues and friends.

UPDATE TOPICS:
21st Century Jobs Fund Informational Tour
Next Entrepreneur Orientation Seminar (Free)
The Truth About Loans: Financing Roundtable
Business Start-Up Seminar Schedule (Free)
Tips: How to Search the Internet

 

21ST CENTURY JOBS FUND INFORMATION TOUR
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is hosting a series of informational meetings on the 21st Century Jobs Fund initiative. This fund will be used to "jump start our economy now and diversify and grow the state's economy in the future."

The meetings will provide more information about access to the new funds to
potential business startups, researchers and product developers. Each information session will focus on presenting the program's request for proposals, proposal due dates, peer review process, eligibility requirements, funding categories, evaluation criteria and other meaningful information for potential applicants.

Local sessions will be held:
Flint Wednesday, 1/18/06 9:00 - 11:00 am
Saginaw Wednesday, 1/18/06 2:00 - 4:00 pm

For more information, please see the MEDC's web site at:
http://medc.michigan.org/21stcenturytour/index.asp

 

 

ENTREPRENEUR ORIENTATION SEMINAR (FREE)
The next Entrepreneur Orientation Seminar, a free orientation for potential business owners is being offered on Thursday, January 26th. The sessions are offered from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Hoyt Main Library, 505 Janes Ave, Saginaw, MI. Learn about community resources and the basics on business ownership from a local expert.

These opportunities are sponsored by Saginaw Future, Inc., the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Saginaw County Minority Business Development Center, Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the Hoyt Main Library Reference Department at (989) 755-0904.

Future sessions are scheduled for:
Feb 23
Mar 23
Apr 27
May 25
Jun 22
Aug 24
Sep 28
Oct 26
Nov 16

 

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT LOANS: FINANCE ROUNDTABLE
 Team SBA announces another Finance Roundtable session on Thursday, February 9th, from 1 - 4pm. If you are serious about seeking financing for your business, you owe it to yourself to attend a Financing Roundtable presented by TEAM SBA. TEAM SBA consists of SBA lenders, business consultants, SBA economic development staff, and business owners like you.

We’ll debunk the myths and demystify the process of bank financing. You will
learn how your loan application will be analyzed, what underwriting criteria is used, and how banking regulations affect the decision. We will answer your questions based upon your business model. Over the last six years, TEAM SBA has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs gain a better understanding of the financing process. In order to help you, we require you to have good credit, a solid business idea and some money to invest in your business.

The roundtable is free to attend, but you must register in advance and meet the criteria above. This session will be held on the campus of Delta College, 1961 Delta Road, Room F102, University Center, MI. 

To register on-line visit: www.misbtdc.org/region5 Calendar of Training or call 989.686.9597. Check out www.sba.gov/calendar for upcoming sessions throughout Michigan.

To view the SBA flyer, The Truth About Loans - Seminar.doc.

 

 

BUSINESS START-UP SEMINAR SCHEDULE
A free Business Start-up Seminar will be held on the following Thursdays in 2006:
Jan 5,
Feb 2,
Mar 2,
Apr 13,
May 4,
Jun 1,
Jul 13,
Sept 7,
Oct 5 and
Nov 2.

Sessions are held at at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 W. St. Andrews, Midland, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Sessions will also be held in Bay City on the following dates:
Mar 21 and
Jun 20

These session will be held at the Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library, 500 Center Ave, Bay City, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Attendance is free and recommended for those who would like to start a small business or those in business that would like to be acquainted with community and business resources. The seminar is an overview of what it takes to start a business; where to go for information and assistance; the business plan and why you need one; licenses and permits; funding and the myth of “Free Money”; and resources available to help set up your business.

Pre-registration is preferred to Midland Area Chamber of Commerce (989) 839-9901 or register online at www.misbtdc.org/region5 and click on Calendar of Training.

TIPS ON HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET
Frustrated with searching the Internet? Most people are. Below is a summary of a longer article that is available on SSBiN.org. For more information, please find our Search Tips on the SSBiN site at: www.ssbin.org/HowtoSearch.htm

Summary Search Tips

  1. Use the advanced search page -- Almost all search engines have an "advanced search" page that provides you with more specific options.
  2. Be as detailed, distinctive and specific as you can be.
  3. Search with phrases using quotation marks around the phrase.
  4. Boolean Search -- Use a plus (+) or minus (-) sign (most search engines accept this). Put a plus sign (+) in front of a word that must be found in the search window, and a (-) in front of words to be excluded.
  5. Still hitting a wall? Change your search: Think of synonyms or a completely different context.
  6. Special functions within search engines -- Several of the search engines can specify pictures, word definitions, UPS/FedEx tracking numbers, news, stock quotes, phone numbers, etc.
  7. Specialized search engines -- Look for highly specialized search engines by typing in: your topic + "subject directory"
    Or try "gateway directory" or "search engine."
  8. Save time with a search toolbar -- Google and Yahoo! both have tool bars that can be added to your web browser.

Recommended Search Engines

  1. Google (www.google.com) - Has indexed the most pages.
  2. Soople (www.soople.com) - Simple interface to advanced Google tools.
  3. Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com) - Like Google, it has some very good tools. Note: Lycos, AltaVista, AllTheWeb, and MSN all use Yahoo! technology.
  4. Vivisimo (www.vivisimo.com) - Is a meta-search engine, (grabs results from all the top search engines) -- and categorizes the results.
  5. Ask Jeeves (www.ask.com) - If you are looking for specific 'how to' information.

 

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The SSBiN website and newsletter is the result from efforts by the Entrepreneur and Small Business Alliance  (ESBA) of the Saginaw Vision 2020. The ESBA is always looking for input and guidance from small business people  like you. If you are interested, please see us at: http://www.ssbin.org/contact.htm.To sign up for SSBiN updates, http://www.ssbin.org/register.htm. To unsubscribe to SSBiN updates, send an email to updates_remove@ssbin.org. To view previous newsletters from SSBiN: http://www.ssbin.org/news.htm We'd like to know what you think about these updates and what information you'd like to see in the future. E-mail  your comments to SSBiN Support (mailto:ssbinsupport@ssbin.org) or see us at: http://www.ssbin.org/contact.htmYour Privacy is important to us. Please see our privacy statement at http://www.ssbin.org/privacy.htm Copyright (c) 2006 www.ssbin.org



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