Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Small Businesses Win in SBA Scorecard, Agency Reports
WASHINGTON -- For the first time in eight years, the federal government has met its annual 23% goal for small-business contracting, the U.S. Small Business Administration reports. The result is more than $83 billion in revenue for small businesses.
"This is a groundbreaking and proud achievement for the federal government and especially for our small businesses," said John Shoraka, SBA associate administrator for government contracting and business development, in a prepared statement. "When small businesses win federal contracts, it strengthens the American job market and boosts our nation’s economy."
Federal agencies are working with SBA and the Obama Administration to enhance small businesses’ ability to win to federal contracts, Shoraka continued. For example, for the first time under the current scorecard methodology, three federal agencies received an A+ grade and 17 received an A. The three top performers were the departments of the Interior and Transportation and the Office of Personnel Management.
Further strides were achieved in the governmentwide scorecard, the SBA said. In fiscal 2013, disadvantaged small firms received 8.6% of all federal contracts, totaling $30.6 billion.
"As a result, we are making progress in underserved communities that were hit hardest by the recession," Shoraka said. "The federal government exceeded its 3% contracting goal for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. These businesses received 3.4% of federal contracts, totaling more than $12 billion."
SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our twice-monthly print edition and to our free daily email headlines.