SHANI J. COLEMAN
Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
SBOP Administrator
July 1, 2021
Greetings!

Today marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for Clark County, which will translate into opportunities for large and small businesses to serve as vendors for the County. If you plan to pursue County work in the coming months be sure to stay up to date on new opportunities as they become available. If your business has not registered for NGEM (Nevada Government eMarketplace) we encourage you to do so now in order to make sure you are notified of solicitations from Clark County and several other entities. Visit the NGEM website from time to time to make sure you are not missing opportunities that match your business.

In this edition of the Small Biz Update, we invite you to participate in a community survey that will help us rebrand Clark County. You will learn about the State's plan to provide an advocate for small businesses. Plus, the SBA is offering opportunities and resources for organizations that help disadvantaged businesses succeed.

Please note, our office will be closed on Monday, July 5, 2021, in observance of Independence Day. We wish you a prosperous month and a safe and happy holiday weekend!

To your success,

Shani J. Coleman

Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
SBOP Administrator
Clark County is Rebranding
Help Create the Vision through a Community Survey
Clark County is conducting a survey to support two county initiatives. The research and data gathered will help in building the County’s vision for the future, as well as messaging for economic development. The survey is anonymous and does not require residents to disclose their names or specific address. All data and information from the survey will be aggregated to provide an understanding of perceptions and views of the county. 

Please take 15-20 minutes to complete the survey by July 19, 2021.
2021 Minimum Wage Increase Begins Today
The minimum wage increase approved by the Nevada State Legislature in 2019 takes effect in Nevada starting on July 1, 2021, with rates increasing annually until July 1, 2024. The new rates apply to all employees in the State unless they are otherwise exempted.

For information about the new minimum wage requirements visit the Nevada Department of Business and Industry website.
Nevada Office of Small Business Advocacy
Support to Navigate State Regulations and Resources
Governor Steve Sisolak recently signed into law Assembly Bill 184 (AB184), which temporarily creates the Office of Small Business Advocacy within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Interim Finance Committee has approved $300,000 to set up the new office, which is expected to serve as a one-stop location to help small businesses take advantage of existing resources and cut through the red tape as they work to recover from the COVID pandemic.
 
In part, the Office of Small Business Advocacy will:

  • Receive, review, and attempt to resolve a complaint from a small business
  • Compile and analyze data on such complaints
  • Assist small businesses to understand their rights and responsibilities
  • Provide certain information regarding small businesses to the public, governmental agencies, and the Legislature
  • Analyze, monitor, and make recommendations concerning laws, regulations, and policies relating to small businesses
  • Disseminate certain information to small businesses
 
With certain exceptions, the advocacy office is authorized to review a request for assistance made by a small business regarding an interaction with a state agency. The records, files, and communications are not public records and will be kept confidential.
 
The temporary advocacy office is authorized to establish and maintain an education course for small businesses. The provisions of AB184 will expire by limitation on June 30, 2023. For more information, you will find an overview of the bill here.
SBA Funding Competition
Provide Procurement Training to Veteran Entrepreneurs
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that non-profit organizations and private sector firms are eligible to compete for funding of up to $500,000 to deliver federal procurement training to veteran and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs.

Eligible organizations must submit applications for the Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program funding opportunity by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 12, 2021, through Grants.gov. Search for opportunity number SB-OVVT-21-001.  

Small Business Outreach Grants - Still Time to Apply
SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program
Until July 12, 2021, qualified organizations can apply for a competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to small businesses in underserved communities. The Small Business Administration is accepting applications for the Community Navigator Pilot Program, which was enacted through the American Rescue Plan. The program will focus on socially and economically disadvantaged businesses including those owned by minorities, women, and veterans. Selected partners will engage in targeted outreach designed to help businesses get back on track as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. The SBA will accept applications through July 12th and anticipates making award decisions by August 2021. 

The Community Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity is open to applications from nonprofit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other organizations. Applicants have until July 12th to submit their applications at grants.gov. 
Council on Underserved Communities Reconvenes
Nominations are Being Accepted
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced it is reconvening the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) to advise the SBA on strengthening and improving strategies to help communities and populations that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing credit, capital, and other resources necessary to start and grow a business. The Council will consist of 20 diverse stakeholders from every region to serve in an advisory capacity and nominations are being accepted until July 20th. To learn about qualifications and access the nomination form visit the SBA online.

Small Business Size & SBA Loan Eligibility
Open for Public Comment
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will accept public comments until July 26th on a proposed rule that would revise the small business size standards that affect loan eligibility for SBA loans. The proposed rule affects 49 industries in two North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) sectors including Wholesale Trade (Sector 42) and Retail Trade (Sector 44-45). 

Comments must be submitted on this proposed rule on or before July 26, 2021, at www.regulations.gov, using: RIN 3245-AH10. You may also send comments by mail to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Size Standards Division, 409 3rd Street SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, D.C., 20416.
 
For more information about SBA’s revisions to its small business size standards, visit “announcements about updating size standards” at http://www.sba.gov/size.
Business-Building Virtual Events
SCORE LAS VEGAS

POWER BRANDING--GETTING AND KEEPING YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER
July 1, 2021 - 11:00am-12:00pm (1:00pm EDT)
How can you GET and KEEP your next customer through the power of great branding? Join personal and business branding expert, Ramon Ray, as he shares with you his key strategies for building a STRONG brand that gets customers coming to you and causes them to want to buy again and refer others to you.
SBA

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIXED & COST TYPES OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
July 6, 2021 - 9:00am
For the firm new to federal acquisition, all contracts may appear alike. However, there are to major families of contracts, Fixed and Cost Reimbursement. This webinar will explore these two families and the major differences between the two as well as the major corresponding business infrastructure elements that a firm must possess to be successful under each type.
NEVADA PTAC

WHERE'S THE CONTRACT? CREATING A WINNING CAPABILITIES STATEMENT
July 15, 2021 - 2:00pm-3:00pm
Join the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s (GOED’s) Nevada Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), Procurement Outreach Program (POP) and Nevada SBDC to learn more about government/public sector contracting — these virtual presentations, which are presented at no charge, are designed for Nevada for-profit businesses, especially the small businesses
Questions About Doing Business with Clark County
Please email Purchasing and Contracts at 
CountyPurchasing@ClarkCountyNV.gov or call (702) 455-2897.

Questions About SBOP
Please email SBOP@ClarkCountyNV.gov or call (702) 455-6489.
Keep Your Business Profile Up To Date
If your business contact information has changed since you first signed up for a Clark County small business training program or newsletter, please provide your new information using the "Update Profile" link at the end of this email. Never miss out on new updates that can help you grow your business!

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