|
|
|
|
| |
There is something to be said for the fact that one of the marquee events for Small Business Week may go without its co-host, should President Trump’s current fiscal 2026 budget proposal be approved.
For years, the virtual programming hosted by the Small Business Administration has often been co-hosted by Score, a network of business volunteers providing mentorship and other training. While Score receives funding from the SBA, it often punches above its weight.
The program cost $21.5 million in fiscal 2024 and helped nearly 250,000 founders with mentoring, in addition to jump-starting more than 13,300 new companies.
But the current fiscal 2026 budget seeks to ax 15 programs—including Score and Women’s Business Centers—because they’re seen as redundant or not aligned with the administration’s priorities.
The budget’s justification reads: “Reforms at SBA are clearly warranted, as the previous administration unconstitutionally used the SBA to advance its divisive agenda, awarding billions in funding to certain businesses based solely on race and gender.”
The Small Business Development Center program—which offers general counseling and training to entrepreneurs—would remain. It would then be responsible for picking up the slack of the services rendered by axed programs. To help compensate for this effort, the SBDC program would receive an additional $10 million.
But, interestingly, the reason for shelling out $10 million is to avoid any disruptions to veteran-owned small businesses, according to the proposal.
Which then makes me wonder: Is the Trump administration attempting to get rid of Veterans Business Outreach Centers? The budget proposal says 15 programs would be cut, but only mentions two. The SBA did not respond to Inc.’s request for comment by deadline.
It is Small Business Week after all, which, despite the calamity in today’s landscape, is still worthy of celebration. And there’s plenty of programming on tap to do just that.
The likes of Visa, T-Mobile, Google, and Square will weigh in today during the SBA's virtual summit, talking about everything from how entrepreneurs can incorporate artificial intelligence to future-proofing your company. Good budget news: The summit is free.
Inc. also released its own series dedicated to Small Business Week, partnering with the Sharks from ABC's Shark Tank. I’m personally looking forward to Barbara Corcoran’s session, though I’m biased since she’s my favorite Shark, because she taught me the art of the handshake.
That’s all from me, but before I sign off … I have some news. This is my last week writing Founder Focus!
Given the absolute whirlwind this news cycle has set, I’m stepping back to be able to get even more in-depth coverage of the Trump administration and other policy news that intersects with entrepreneurship. So I’m passing the baton to Inc.’s Annabel Burba. You’ll be in good hands and she’ll show up in your inboxes next week.
Thanks for having me. I’ve immensely enjoyed hearing from those of you who have reached out and hope you won’t be strangers. Cheers!
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Meeting Markey: Last week, I was on the ground in the nation’s capital and got to catch up with Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.). We talked Trump, the SBA taking over student loans, and, of course, tariffs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
My goal will be to find a way to have an exemption for small businesses in our country. Otherwise, the United States could, in fact, suffer an extermination event for small businesses across the country who will be devastated by the tidal wave of tariff costs that are imposed upon them
—Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Eye on Washington: Treasury secretary Scott Bessent recently cautioned that the debt ceiling, along with so-called X-date (which is when the U.S. government would run out of money), is "on the warning track." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Tighter standards: The SBA rolled back a swath of Biden-era underwriting standards. Here are four ways the lending box just grew tighter. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Keeping up: Here’s what else I’m reading at Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
