News Release

IEEE-USA and Small Business Administration partner to assist high-tech entrepreneurs

Business Announcement

IEEE-USA

WASHINGTON (23 June 2009) -- To assist high-tech entrepreneurs starting new businesses, IEEE-USA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have signed an agreement pledging mutual cooperation in promoting, strengthening and expanding small business development throughout the country.

According to IEEE-USA President Gordon Day, the agreement will benefit IEEE members who are starting their own technology-based businesses.

"The American high-tech industry was created by individuals who had the vision and courage to create new products, companies and even whole industries based on little more than ideas and hard work," Day said. "Big companies like HP and Apple started in garages. By partnering with SBA, we can help find and nurture America's next generation of advanced technology companies and business leaders."

Under the agreement, SBA will provide IEEE-USA with information about its programs and services, make available information about SBA's resource partners, provide speakers to participate in IEEE-USA events to discuss SBA financing, government contracting and other business topics, and invite IEEE members to attend local SBA-sponsored events and offer training at IEEE-USA-designated locations.

IEEE-USA will cooperate with SBA's resource partners -- Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" -- to provide information to its members about business development services for small businesses, inform IEEE members of SBA's programs and services, provide speakers for SBA-sponsored events and share volunteer opportunities, such as SCORE counseling positions, with IEEE members.

"The SBA and IEEE-USA have joined together to help some of the nation's most innovative entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses," SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. "This cooperative agreement means that more technical businesses will be able to benefit from SBA programs, services and financial assistance as they create the jobs of the 21st century."

A signing ceremony at SBA headquarters in Washington was held on 18 June. Ana M. Ma., SBA's chief of staff, represented SBA, and Day represented IEEE-USA.

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Working through its Entrepreneurial Activities Committee, IEEE-USA has established an online Entrepreneurs Village, which provides resources promoting innovation and company growth, and links high-tech entrepreneurs with mentors and peers. See http://www.ieeeusa.org/careers/entrepreneurs/.

The SBA is an independent federal agency created in 1953 "to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation." See www.sba.gov.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of more than 210,000 engineers, scientists and allied professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. IEEE-USA is part of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society with 375,000 members in 160 countries. See http://www.ieeeusa.org.


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