The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on March 12th that it will provide Disaster Loan assistance to small businesses impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19). Alexandria SBDC will assist Alexandria businesses with their application processes when those loans are made available. The Disaster Declaration for businesses in our area has not been made yet so we… Read more »

In the last few years we have seen several news accounts of major data breaches involving big businesses, nonprofit organizations, banking institutions, and even government entities.  While this is a major issue for these organizations, they generally have the expertise and means to fix the issue and ensure that the breach does not continue.  But… Read more »

We received the following notice last evening from SBDC friend, colleague, and social media guru, Ray Sidney-Smith.  It is important information on being prepared for any emergency, and how being prepared can save your business.  All small businesses and organizations should take note: Dear Clients and Colleagues, As some of you have heard, our office… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on September 28, 2017. Lately, our television screens have been filled with scenes of hurricanes and earthquakes, and people struggling to recover their lives – and businesses. For those devastated businesses, survival statistics are especially grim. FEMA estimates 40… Read more »

If you want a pleasant Sunday morning read, check out this list of data breaches of major companies, organizations and government agencies. These are entities with IT departments, security professionals monitoring their networks, cybersecurity policies, and a budget to support their cybersecurity efforts. At least one of these data breaches included data about you. And,… Read more »

If a hurricane or other natural or man-made disaster was to hit, would your small business be able to get back on its feet and open right away? To a large extent, that would depend on what you have done to prepare for an eventual emergency. In this area we have seen hurricanes, floods and… Read more »

“A business continuity plan is an essential factor of a small company’s long-term success and will contribute to the community’s economic recovery in the aftermath of a disaster.” Maria Contreras-Sweet Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration As we enter the season of storms and power outages, it is necessary for small business owners to get ready…. Read more »