• NASE Rolls Out Grant Program for Micro-Businesses
• NASE Announces First-Ever Member Advisory Council
• Congressional Response Positive to NASE’s Health Initiative
• Member Poll: Cover the Uninsured

NASE Rolls Out Grant Program for Micro-Businesses

Earlier this year, the NASE conducted an online member survey and found 40 percent of respondents are forced to use personal savings for ongoing financing in addition to 20 percent who use credit cards. Only 9 percent use loans from traditional lending institutions for ongoing financing. The NASE has responded to these troubling numbers by launching the NASE Business Development Grant Program for members who want to grow their businesses. “Micro-business owners need better and easier ways to access capital to maintain the businesses that are so important to this economy,” said NASE president Robert Hughes. “The NASE has launched this program to provide micro-business owners with another point of access to capital so necessary for growing businesses.” Micro-businesses do not have the same access to capital as large corporations. Historically, traditional lending sources such as banks, other financial institutions and government loan programs have not met the capital requirements of micro-business owners. The mission of the 2006 NASE Business Development Grant program is to assist micro-business owners in sustaining and growing their businesses by offering grants to its membership. The NASE has designated $200,000 in grant monies to be offered in 2006 to help micro-business owners take their business to the next level. Individual grants will be made in amounts of up to $5,000 per applicant. Applications for the 2006 NASE Business Development Grant Program will be accepted from May 1, 2006, through November 30, 2006, and will be considered on a rolling basis. Criteria used in evaluating applications and awarding grants include: Review of identifiable business need Detailed use of the proceeds of the grant The potential of the grant to satisfy the identified business need The potential impact of the grant on overall business growth and success For more information on the NASE Business Development Grant Program, visit www.NASE.org and type "Grants" into the Quick Link box. NASE Announces First-Ever Member Advisory Council To better serve the nation's micro-business population, the NASE has formed an advisory council of association members. The council members will provide comments both on the NASE and issues for micro-business owners at large. This council will enable the NASE to have an even better pulse on micro-business interests. “The NASE greatly appreciates the time and effort these members are willing to commit to the council,” said NASE President Robert Hughes. “The NASE's purpose is to best represent the needs of micro-business owners. With ideas and expertise provided by our council members, the NASE will gain new insights into the needs of the self-employed.” The 11-member council will monitor trends, challenges and needs that are of chief concern to micro-business owners from health care to access to capital. The council will advise the NASE on how the association can take a leadership role in responding to those needs. The 11 council members work in different regions of the county. They bring to the council varying degrees of business experience in different industries. The members of the 2006 NASE Member Advisory Council are: Lola Boyers, Shrewsbury, Mass. – Lalajava Coffeehouse Rick Brauchler, Jr., Clinton, Conn. – Rick Brauchler, Jr. & Co. Timmy Butler, Clinton, N.C. – Butler & Son Funeral Homes Inc. Tom Casale, Chicago, Ill. – Simplified Solutions Andrew Cotsimopoulos, Leesburg, Va. – GroundWorks Home Improvements Jean Freeman, Washington, D.C. – Jean Freeman & Associates Jeanette Howarth, Newaygo, Mich. - Howarth Excavating Inc. Chris Humphrey, Owasso, Okla. – Chris Humphrey Photographer Gregory Isaacs, Dallas, Texas. – Sterling Brokerage & Business Advisors Josh Levine, Owings Mill, Md. – Electra Entertainment Leslie Raber, Portland, Maine – New England Fish Company and Ocean Spray Seafoods For more information on the NASE Member Advisory Council, visit http://news.nase.org/nase_about/PressRelease.asp?PRID=165. Congressional Response Positive to NASE’s Health Initiative Members of Congress had this to say about the NASE’s new Your Health, Your Choice Initiative: “I applaud the National Association for the Self-Employed for its Your Health, Your Choice program to educate and inform self-employed and micro-business owners about their health care options. Surging health care costs remain the number one concern for small businesses in America, and it's great to see this organization taking the initiative to help.” -Rep. Donald Manzullo, R-Ill., Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and Sponsor of Equity for Our Nation’s Self-Employed Act of 2005 “The National Association for the Self-Employed should be commended for their innovative plan to help the self-employed receive and understand all of their options concerning their healthcare. With over 50 percent of micro-business owners reporting that they do not currently have health insurance for themselves or their employees, the NASE’s education plan is a great step in the right direction to ensure small-business owners and employees are equipped with all the information they need.” - Representative Melissa Hart, R-Penn., Sponsor of Equity for Our Nation’s Self-Employed Act of 2005 “Affordable health care should be a right for all Americans, not a privilege for the wealthy. No one knows the challenges and costs of obtaining health care more than America’s self-employed and micro-entrepreneurs. Having a guide that can help entrepreneurs cut through the red tape, paperwork and confusing terminology in making their health care choices is invaluable. Until Congress takes steps to reduce health care costs through real reform, NASE’s guide can help streamline the decision-making process so America’s entrepreneurs can focus on what they do best – create jobs and contribute to the economy.” - Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship For more information on the NASE Your Health, Your Choice initiative, visit http://health.NASE.org. Member Poll: Cover the Uninsured The NASE joined a diverse group of national organizations in support of this year’s Cover the Uninsured Week, May 1-8th. Currently, 46 million Americans have no health insurance, with 60 percent of uninsured Americans representing owners, employees or dependents of those working in small business. Let the NASE know your opinions on this issue by visiting the MyNASE Web site at http://my.NASE.org/. Log in to your free MyNASE Web account. If you have not set up an account, you can do so at http://my.NASE.org/ with your member number.