Monday, August 31, 2009

SBA Launches YouTube Channel

To reach a larger audience, the U.S. Small Business Administration is now posting informational videos on YouTube. The Small Business Administration recently launched it's own YouTube channel, joining an increasing number of federal agencies that are taking advantage of the popular video-sharing platform to reach a larger audience.

“With millions of visitors, most of them under 35, YouTube offers a prime opportunity to use current technology and the appeal of a popular online platform to further promote the agency’s programs and services,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills says. “By expanding its outreach, SBA will be providing more current and potential entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to start, grow and succeed in their businesses.”

In a statement released Aug. 26, SBA said it is intent on reaching this audience with its message of entrepreneurship, the importance of small business to the nation’s economy and information on the agency’s programs and services.

The
SBA YouTube channel debuted with a 60-second introduction to SBA, its programs and services, and a 10-part “Delivering Success” series co-produced with the U.S. Postal Service.
Future content will include a variety of videos with more in-depth information about SBA programs and services to inform current and potential entrepreneurs. Topics will cover how small businesses can take advantage of the Recovery Act loan programs, government contracting opportunities, exporting to increase market share, counseling and training on how to start and grow a small business, and small business success stories.

Immigrants a Plus for the Economy

I've taken a break from the business blog for a month and with Labor Day just around the corner it is time to bring attention back to the New Iowa Entrepreneurs Coalition and these musings. I'm just back from a delightful 10 days in the Pacific NW - visiting grandchildren and relaxing.

While on the flights to and from SeaTec, I had some time to catch up on back issues of Business Week and Newsweek magazines that have languished in my inbox over the past few weeks. Here is one of the short takes that caught my eye.

Immigrants a Plus for the Economy

Immigrants create more jobs than they take. That is the take home message appearing in a recent issue of Newsweek from the following
'Smart List' item:

Lou Dobbs, take note: immigrants are good for our economy. The most skilled create jobs in technology and engineering, says Duke professor
Vivek Wadhwa, who estimates that in 2005 immigrant-founded engineering and tech companies employed 450,000 people and generated $52 billion in sales. But even the least skilled more than repay their costs in schools and health care. Two highly respected Australian economists, Maureen Rimmer and Peter Dixon, studied the issue for the libertarian Cato Institute. "The net impact on U.S. households from tighter border enforcement is unambiguously negative," they found, because even low-skilled immigrants expand the economic pie and create jobs farther up the ladder. Cato's Dan Griswold says the study shows a $250 billion difference between the most and least restrictive immigration policies.

Not surprisingly, the blurb has generated a number of reader comments. And unfortunately, a majority use it as a misguided chance to complain about high unemployment rates in the US and jobs going overseas (a completely separate issue). My personal favorite mixes in a bit of anti-corporate conspiracy theory with its xenophobia:

"Only a magazine that makes its money from the ads it sells to soulless, nationless corporations would say immigrants create jobs. I guess the more immigrants, the happier the corporations are and the happier Newsweek is to sell them ad space. Corporatism is cracking. The American middle class won't take much more of their jobs being transferred to India. India needs to create its own jobs instead of sucking jobs from "American" firms."