International Falls Daily Journal - What Has The Local Small Business Office Accomplished In The Past Year? - Comments

No I have never gotten a

kay — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:03:02 -0500

No I have never gotten a loan through the SBA and have never tried. I am glad to hear people have worked with Jenny and she was able to help them.

Excellent! Its good to hear

kay — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:49:00 -0500

Excellent! Its good to hear its a positive agency.

I agree with LoggerGirl,

roj2000 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:43:49 -0500

I agree with LoggerGirl, 100%!!!! Sounds like Kay went to them for a quick business loan and was turned down! Got to have a plan, or they won't help ya! LOL..... Seriously, I've dealt with the SBA and they are great. If ya got your stuff together, they will bend over backwards for you. They do have their Guvment "racial & gender" quota's they have to fill, but usually there is some money left over for us regular folks. Don't believe me, look it up. But, I would tend to believe that the lack of new business, is not a fault of the local SBA Office, but rather the "old fart" who works at Boise, and a few of the other old time cliques in the Falls. Wake up folks and put these geezers out to pasture, and get some new blood running the Falls. Ya all are spinning your wheels, while the town sinks backwards into oblivion!! The "good ole boy system" doesn't work anymore (not even down here in Dixie)! Like Dennis Hopper says, "you gotta have a plan"!! So Kay, before you knock these people, go meet with them, and then get back to us! They might even be able to help you (if you have a plan)!

The lady to which lesleyk is

LoggerGirl — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:55 -0500

The lady to which lesleyk is referring--name is Jenny Dougherty.

My husband and I meet with her last month. She reviewed our buiness' financial statements for the last year. She showed us places that the numbers are doing good and where they could be improving. She listen and commented on things that we are planning to do, ...so we can keep all our employees on the payroll and pay the heating bill should it almost double again this winter. She also gave us inform for healthcare programs.

From this meeting, I came away with the impression that Jenny was a very open and personal and she has a deep desire to help any small business that asks.

Kay, perhaps you should actually do a little more research on your questions before turning them into a negatively leading posting? I am postive that she would make time to explain what her position entails to you, should you bother to ask her. Her direct line is 283-8585. Or her business e-mail is jenny.keda@northwinds.net. I'm sure that she does not mind me giving you such information as I've taken it from her business card.

In one search quick internet search of SBA I found this:

"The U.S. Small Business Administration is a government agency that provides support to small businesses.

The SBA was officially established in 1953. The U.S. Congress passed the Small Business Act of July 30, 1953, creating the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA's function was to "aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns." The charter also stipulated that the SBA would ensure small businesses a "fair proportion" of government contracts and sales of surplus property.

The SBA already makes direct business loans and guarantees bank loans to small businesses, as well as makes loans to victims of natural disasters, works to get government procurement contracts for small businesses and helps business owners with management and technical assistance and business training.

Nearly 20 million small businesses have received direct or indirect help from one or another of those SBA programs since 1953. In fact, SBA's current business loan portfolio of roughly 219,000 loans worth more than $45 billion makes it the largest single financial backer of U.S. businesses in the nation. "

http://www.smallbusiness.com/wiki/Small_Business_Administration

From everything I have

lesleyk — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:05:38 -0500

From everything I have heard, the lady who works in the Small Business Dev office is very helpful and hard working. Let's remember, her job isn't to get businesses started persay, but to help those who are working towards starting a small business. Her efforts may not be as visible as what KEDA's should be. Her role is more of a support role, not the lead role KEDA should be taking.

What Has The Local Small Business Office Accomplished In The Past Year?

kay — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:16:02 -0500

I am wondering what businesses the local small business adminstration office have started in the past year. I will bet there are none. How much do we the taxpayer pay for this office? It is about as good as KEDA in my estimation. Maybe the Journal can do a story on what is happening in this office besides paying for the employees.