GC Classrom: Online Training Courses on Small Business Government Contracting

Ed. Note: The following is a cross-post that originally appeared on the Small Business Administration's blog.

As a former government contractor, I know how hard it can be to succeed in federal government procurement.  You face challenges every day as a business owner, an employer, and a service provider.

That’s why as the Acting Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development at the SBA it is a priority of mine to make sure that we provide as much information to you as possible about our efforts to support small business government contracting.  We want to provide you, the small business owner, pertinent and relevant information in an understandable format.  That’s why today, SBA is pleased to spotlight three new online training courses meant to help small businesses interested in government contracting learn about the process - the Government Contracting Classroom.

The GC Classroom is an online training destination where small businesses can acquire the confidence and know-how to participate in the federal contracting space.  The new online contracting series is called Government Contracting 101, Parts 1-3.  Part 1 provides an overview of the small business contracting programs so you know what is available to you as a small business owner.  Part 2 is designed to help small firms understand how the government buys goods and services. Part 3 is about how to sell to the government.  All three modules include a “resources and tools” section with links, materials and more that could be useful. 

These three new modules add to the five existing, free self-paced training modules, all designed to help small firms benefit from the more than $500 billion in federal contracts that are awarded each year.  We have big plans to add more information in the coming months, so keep checking the GC Classroom, and www.sba.gov, for more updates and information.

John Shoraka is the Acting Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development.

SBA Continues to Help Strengthen Small Businesses in Indian Country

This post originally appeared on the Small Business Administration's blog

Recently, SBA kicked off the 2012 Emerging Leaders (known as the e200) executive-level training initiative for small business owners in 27 cities, including 10 Native American communities.

The e200 is an intensive training program for small companies that have the potential for quick growth and job creation. I’m excited that e200 continues to reach our Native small business communities with training, mentorship and resources to help them take their businesses to the next level. Native American small businesses are an important part of creating a blueprint for an economy built to last.

Celebrating the Two Year Anniversary of Let’s Move! and work in Indian Country

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Garden Harvest Event with children and members of the American Indian community, in the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn of the White House, June 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama is hitting the road to kick off a three day, nation-wide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let’s Move!.  Since launching Let’s Move! on February 9, 2010, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity.  

Over the past three decades, rates of childhood obesity in this country have tripled.  Today, nearly one in every three children in the U.S. are overweight or obese.  An integral part of the Let’s Move! initiative includes addressing the needs of populations where childhood obesity rates are particularly high, including American Indian and Alaska Native communities, who experience obesity and other related diseases atdisproportionately high rates and are twice as likely as the general population to be overweight.  In May 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move! in Indian Country (LMIC), bringing together federal agencies, local communities, nonprofits, corporate partners, and tribes to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in Indian Country within a generation by creating a healthy start on life for children; ensuring families access to healthy, affordable, traditional foods; and increasing opportunities for physical activity.

The First Lady’s Let’s Move! tour will highlight examples of people making changes across the country.  In Indian Country, parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, schools, community and faith leaders and youth themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation’s children.  For example, Dallas Duplessis is a youth advocate for healthier eating and started a gardening club on her reservation in Tulalip, Washington.  After witnessing the effects of unhealthy eating habits, Dallas and her family got involved with the Hilbulb Cultural Center program “Growing Together as Families,” which teaches families healthy eating habits.  Dallas then started the Tulalip Youth Gardeners Club to inspire other kids to garden together with their families.  President Obama recognized Dallas’ leadership as a White House Champion of Change in his remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Conference in December, noting that the First Lady would appreciate the goal of the club, which, in Dallas’ words, is “not to be couch potatoes, but to grow some potatoes.”

Dallas is just one of the many “champions” of the Let’s Move! initiative in Indian Country. 

LMIC has worked with many stakeholders in Indian Country to create a comprehensive toolkit to connect communities, schools and tribal leaders to resources, funding, trainings and programs that will help improve the health of the next generation.  The LMIC interagency partners have also worked towards four specific goals, informed by the work of the Childhood Obesity Task Force and the feedback received through meetings with tribal leaders and organizations.  These goals include:

• Creating a Healthy Start on Life:  The Indian Health Service (IHS) launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital campaign to promote breast-feeding in IHS facilities and has committed to achieving baby friendly certification for all of their 14 federally-run obstetrics units.
• Creating Healthy Learning Communities:  The USDA Food and Nutrition Services delivered six trainings to Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools in 2011, to provide information on how schools can participate in the Healthier U.S. School Challenge – Fuel Up to Play 60, obtain funding for infrastructure development, and access programs and resources to serve healthier meals and snacks year-round to school age children.  Because of the President’s commitment to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which reauthorized the Child Nutrition Act, the BIE began the process of updating agency standards to create a healthier school environment through a Bureau-wide Health and Wellness Policy for schools that will be implemented throughout the BIE school system this year.
• Fostering Healthy, Comprehensive Food Systems Policies:  USDA has worked to develop over twenty Food Policy Councils (FPC) across Indian Country to improve food production opportunities and access to healthy, affordable, and traditional foods.
• Increasing Opportunities for Physical Activity:  Last year the BIE launched the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge in Indian Country with the help of the Chicago Bears’ and Nike N7 athlete Levi Horn.  Many of the BIE schools have made this challenge their own by incorporating culturally relevant and traditional activities.  With the help of partners like Coach-Across-America (CAA), Just Move It, and many others, LMIC is bringing coaches and Physical Education programming to communities previously lacking access to these opportunities.