Archive for April, 2010
As a follow-up to our previous post, we’d like to share the video of our expert panel discussion, held at Canisius College last week.
Find the the rest of our talk on our youtube channel, CanisiusWBC.
What did you take away from this discussion? Let us know in a comment below.
Author: Events, Video, Women | 10 Comments »
Did you know that, even in 2010, there is still a considerable pay gap for women in the United States? According to the Corporate Gender Gap 2010 Report, issued by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, women make, on average, only 77% of the average male income. This incredible margin exists despite the fact that women account for more than half of the workforce (52%) and over half of college graduates. With the majority of our “human talent” represented by women, how is it that we are still consistently underpaid and undervalued, compared to our male counterparts?
In an effort to acknowledge this continued disparity, next week, on April 20th, the Women’s Business Center will be observing Equal Pay Day. This day, which symbolizes how far into 2010 women must work to earn what men made in 2009, was established by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 to spread public awareness of gender wage disparity. That day, we ask that you wear red to illustrate how women are still “in the red” when it comes to their pay.
We also invite you to an event hosted by the Canisius College Women’s Studies Department and the Women’s Business Center scheduled for that Tuesday: “Equal Pay Day: A Dicussion and Workshop on Closing the Gender Pay Gap.” A panel discussion will address the realities of the gender pay gap issue and the following workshop will present tatics for women and students to effectively negotiate their salary. This event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.
*all statistics from The World Economic Forum. Click here to access the full reports.
What do you think about pay equity? Leave a comment.
Author: Events, In the News, Stats, Women | 5 Comments »
This past Tuesday, the Small Business Administration released this statement about fraudulent attempts to offer SBA loans:
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WASHINGTON – The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) is warning small businesses to use caution if they are contacted by firms offering to help them apply for funds available through SBA programs.
SBA and SBA’s Office of the Inspector General (SBA OIG) have received several complaints from small businesses about abusive marketing practices, scams, and exorbitant fees charged by firms offering to help them obtain a loan, grant, or other federal funds, from SBA.
Some of these complaints include:
- Firms charging small businesses high fees to provide assistance applying to SBA funding programs. Some firms allegedly guaranteed that the small business would obtain SBA funding if they paid the fee. SBA does not endorse or give preference to specific private companies or their clients.
- Firms charging small business for services never requested after the small business gave bank account and routing information to a caller claiming to be a firm offering assistance. SBA recommends that small businesses never provide social security numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers to anyone; and, never over the telephone.
- Firms alleging that a small business would be issued a “foreiture letter” that would make the small business ineligible for any SBA funding for three years if the small business refused to use the firms services.
When electing to use a third party to apply for SBA funding programs, small businesses should also bear in mind:
- Small businesses can get free assistance in person or by calling one of SBA’s 68 District Offices [you can contact the Buffalo District Office at (716) 551-4301] and from information on SBA’s website. They can also get assistance from Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers and SCORE Chapters, either free or for a reasonable fee. Location and contact information can be found on the SBA’s website.
- Small businesses should ask for references and confer with trusted colleagues and institutions, such as the Better Business Bureau, when selecting service providers.
- Small businesses should clearly establish and document: (1) What they are being charged; (2) When they will be charged; (3) What they must do; and (4) What services they will receive.
SBA’s Office of the Inspector General will investigate and respond to all complaints. SBA encourages anyone with knowledge of a misrepresentation regarding SBA Business Loan Programs, or any other SBA program, to contact SBA OIG by calling the OIG Hotline toll-free at (800) 767-0385, or submitting an online report at the SBA OIG website, and click the link for “Report Fraud Waste or Abuse.”
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In other small business news, the SBA also announced that it will be extending Recovery funding through the month of April.
The $40 million extension is estimated to support about $1.4 billion in small business lending.
The SBA will continue to waive loan fees and provide higher guarantee levels for 7(a) loans until April 30th, 2010, or until the funds provided by the bill are exhausted.
To find out more about securing small business funding through the SBA, click here.
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Author: Financial, Funding, In the News, Policy | No Comments »