The Administration may provide loan guarantees to finance residential or commercial construction or rehabilitation for sale as well as revolving lines of credit, including those for export purposes, to qualified employee trusts. The Administration may finance small firms that manufacture, sell, install, service, or develop specific energy measures including engineering, architectural, consulting, or other professional services connected with eligible energy measures.

The Administration may also provide assistance to small businesses needing small-scale financing and technical assistance through loans and grants to private, nonprofit organizations who, in turn, make microloans and provide technical assistance to eligible concerns.

Under the provisions of sections 501506 of the Small Business Investment Act (15 U.S.C. 695, 696), loans are made to State and local development companies who likewise assist small businesses by providing long-term loans for the acquisition of land and buildings, construction, conversion, or expansion of facilities, and the purchase of machinery and equipment.

For further information, contact the nearest Small Business Administration district office.

Disaster Assistance The Administration lends money to help the victims of floods, riots, or other catastrophes repair or replace most disaster-damaged property. Direct loans with subsidized interest rates are made to assist individuals, homeowners, businesses, and small agricultural cooperatives without credit elsewhere that have sustained substantial economic injury resulting from natural disasters.

For further information, contact the Office of
Disaster Assistance. Phone, 202–205-6734.
Investment The Administration
licenses, regulates, and provides
financial assistance to small business
investment companies and section
301(d) licensees (formerly minority
enterprise small business investment
companies). The sole function of these
investment companies is to provide
venture capital in the form of equity

financing, long-term loan funds, and management services to small business

concerns.

For further information, contact the Investment
Division. Phone, 202-205-6510.

Surety Bonds Through its Surety Bond
Guarantee Program, the Administration
helps to make the contract bonding
process accessible to small and emerging
contractors who find bonding
unavailable. It will guarantee to
reimburse a qualified surety up to 90
percent of losses incurred under bid,
payment, or performance bonds issued
to small contractors on contracts valued
up to $1.25 million. The contracts may
be for construction, supplies,
manufacturing, or services provided by
either a prime contractor or
subcontractor for governmental or
nongovernmental work.

For further information, contact the Office of Surety Guarantee. Phone, 202-205-6540. Government Contracting The Administration works closely with purchasing agencies of the Federal Government and with the Nation's leading contractors in developing policies and procedures that will increase the number of contracts going to small business.

The Administration provides a wide range of services to small firms to help them obtain and fulfill Government contracts and subcontracts. It sets aside suitable Government purchases for competitive award to small business concerns and provides an appeal procedure for a low-bidding small firm whose ability to perform a contract is questioned by the contracting officer. The Administration develops subcontract opportunities for small businesses by maintaining close contact with prime contractors and referring qualified small firms to them. It cooperates with Federal agencies in setting procurement goals for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and small women-owned businesses for prime contracts and subcontracts.

The Administration maintains a computerized small business source referral system that provides qualified

sources for Federal Government and large business procurements. It cooperates with Government agencies in ensuring that small firms have an opportunity to procure a fair share of Government property, such as timber, royalty oil, strategic materials, and mineral leases, that is sold to the private sector. The Administration also works with Federal agencies to ensure that small firms have a fair opportunity to acquire surplus Government property.

For further information, contact the Office of
Government Contracting. Phone, 202-205-6460.

Business Initiatives The Administration develops and cosponsors counseling, education, and training for small businesses. The Administration has

forged ongoing partnerships with resource partners to deliver most of the business education and training programs offered annually at low cost. One-on-one counseling is provided free of charge by the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

The Business Information Center (BIC) program is among the most innovative methods of providing small business owners with a one-stop approach to information, education, and training. The Centers combine the latest computer technology, hardware, and software, an extensive small business reference library of hard copy books and publications, and current management videotapes to help clients venture into new business areas. The use of software for a variety of business applications offers clients of all types a means of addressing their diverse needs. Although most BIC's are stand-alone centers, in Empowerment Zones BIC's will form the core element of one-stop capital shops.

In addition to education and training events, SBA cosponsors fact sheets and other materials, ranging from short, single-topic flyers to detailed publications, on a variety of business management and growth topics.

Among the most visible public/private sector cosponsorships undertaken by SBA is the creation, with Sprint, of SBA Online, SBA's toll-free electronic bulletin board for small businesses.

For further information, contact the Office of Business Initiatives. Phone, 202–205–6665. Minority Enterprise Development Sections 7(j) and 8(a) of the Small Business Act provide the authority for the Minority Enterprise Development Program, designed to promote business ownership by socially and economically disadvantaged persons. Its components include the 8(a) program, the 7(j) management and technical assistance program, and the minority outreach program.

Participation in the 8(a) program is available to small businesses that are at least 51 percent unconditionally owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals determined by SBA to be socially and economically

disadvantaged. In order to gain approval for participation in the 8(a) program, the firms must sell goods and/or services that the Federal Government purchases, and demonstrate the potential for successful business development.

Program participants receive a wide variety of services from SBA including management and technical assistance, loans, and Federal contracts. Under 8(a) program authority, SBA contracts with Federal Government entities to provide goods and services and, in turn, subcontracts the performance of these contracts to 8(a) program participants.

Information regarding the program and 8(a) program applications are provided by SBA's district offices. The Division of Program Certification and Eligibility addresses issues related to 8(a) program eligibility. The Division of Program Development handles matters related to 8(a) contract awards and the business development of 8(a) participant firms.

Under section 7(j) program authority, SBA provides management and technical assistance to section 8(a) program participants, other socially and economically disadvantaged persons, and those businesses operating in lowincome or high-unemployment areas. The Administration enters into cooperative agreements and contracts with qualified organizations and individuals, including businesses, State and local governments, educational

institutions, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations to provide this assistance. At the local level, services are provided on a one-to-one basis in the areas of bookkeeping and accounting services, production, engineering and technical advice, feasibility studies, marketing analysis and advertising expertise, legal services, and specialized management training. At the regional and national levels, SBA funds innovative programs to provide for services in such areas as transition management for 8(a) firms, competitive marketing strategies, financing, comprehensive business plans, and financial management services. The Division of Management and Technical Assistance administers the 7(j) program. For further information, contact the Office of Minority Enterprise Development. Phone, 202–2056412.

Advocacy The Office of Advocacy is mandated by Congress to serve as a leading advocate within public policy councils for the more than 22 million small businesses throughout the country. The Office is headed by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy, who advances the views, concerns, and interest of small business before the Congress, the White House, and Federal and State regulatory agencies. The Chief Counsel has specific responsibilities for monitoring the compliance of Federal agencies with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601).

The Office of Advocacy is one of the leading national sources for information on the state of small business and the issues that affect small business success and growth. The Office conducts economic and statistical research into matters affecting the competitive strength of small business, including the effect of Federal laws, regulations, and programs, and makes recommendations to Federal agencies for appropriate adjustments to meet the special needs of small business. Additionally, regional advocates enhance communication between the small business community and the Chief Counsel. As the Chief Counsel's direct link to local business owners, State and local government agencies, State legislatures, and small business

organizations, they help identify new
issues and problems of small business by
monitoring the effect of Federal and
State regulations and policies on the
local business communities within their
regions.

For further information, contact the Office of
Advocacy. Phone, 202-205-6533.

Women's Business Ownership The
Office of Women's Business Ownership
(OWBO) is authorized in section 412 of
the Small Business Act to provide
assistance to the increasing number of
current and potential woman business
owners, and to act as their advocate in
the public and private sector. It is the
only office in the Federal Government
specifically targeted to the Nation's
women business owners, assisting them
in becoming full partners in economic
development through technical,
financial, and management information
and training, business skills counseling,
and research.

Through a network of local SBA offices, ÖWBO offers a wide range of education and training services and resources. The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 and the Women's Business Development Act of 1991 authorized SBA to establish demonstration projects to provide longterm training and counseling for women at every stage of their entrepreneurial career. There are currently 54 centers, in 28 States and the District of Columbia, which provide community-based training and assistance on financial, management, marketing, and procurement matters through a 3-year grant which must be matched by nonfederal funds. The centers offer assistance to current and potential women business owners, tailored to the particular needs of the community. The Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) is a year-long mentoring program linking seasoned entrepreneurs with women whose businesses are poised for growth. A new feature of the program is the peer group roundtable. These approaches help entrepreneurs avoid the common mistakes of new business owners.