ABC Online and On Your Side Check out our NEW EZlocal Premium listing! Receive a featured listing on EZlocal.com, enhanced business profile, top search engine submission, and local SEO consultation to get your business found online with our new EZlocal Premium. Are you listed yet?Health Care ReformWhat Health Care Reform Means for Your BusinessThe sweeping health-care bill passed by the House of Representatives Sunday, and now headed for President Obama's desk, promises a sea change in the way that small business owners purchase and provide health insurance for themselves and their employees. CNNmoney.comHealth Care Reform [Read Full Article]

In the NewsU.S. to Help Banks in Distressed AreasThe Treasury Department will invest up to $1 billion from the federal bank bailout fund in small banks and credit unions that make loans to small businesses in some of the communities most ravaged by the economic downturn, officials announced on Wednesday. NYtimes.com Management & Operations How To Develop Your Global Leadership Pipeline To stay competitive in your industry and accomplish your goals, it is important to have strong leadership. This stems from executives, managers, and even entry-level employees, as they develop skills for improving the... [Read Full Article]

Government and Politics A Small-Business Owner Takes His Case to the Top Last week, one entrepreneur had the opportunity to ask President Obama a question that no doubt has been on the mind of many others regarding small business loans. NYtimes.com Government and Politics Obama's Small Business Plans: Where They Stand President Obama has been talking -- a lot -- about what Washington needs to do to help save small businesses. Over the past week, he's introduced a half-dozen different initiatives aimed at unlocking credit, creating jobs and expanding the Small Business Administration's loan pr... [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Sentate Mystery: Who Killed Small Business Credit-Card Protection? When the amendment offered by Senator Mary Landrieu (D – LA) to get new consumer credit-card protections extended to small businesses was killed last month, the perpetrators left no fingerprints. In fact, no one knows precisely what happened, or why. NYTimes.com The Small Business Owners' Wish List for Obama Small business owners don't ask for much, but an end to the credit crunch, less talk of tax increases, and healthcare reform without coverage mandates do top t... [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Republicans: Obama's Financial Oversight Plan Would Continue Bailouts Leading Republicans on a House panel considering the Obama administration’s overhaul of financial regulations said the president’s plan would continue taxpayer-funded bailouts. Bloomberg.com Ownership, Management and Operations Make Sure Your New Hires are “Onboard” Once they've finished their HR paperwork, it's time to really bring your new hires “onboard.” They will be more engaged, more productive, and they will want to stay and be committe... [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Small Business Indicators Fall with Employment A monthly index of key small business indicators fell in January to its second-lowest level in 35 years. Washington Business Journal Small Lenders Taking a Fresh Look at SBA Loans Small community banks may have once considered SBA loans too cumbersome, but now they are becoming SBA lenders in advance of economic stimulus incentives and that could open new financing for entrepreneurs. The Arizona Republic [Read Full Article]

Government and Economy Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business In the fourth quarter of 2008, the U.S. economy suffered its worst decline since 1982 as real GDP fell by an annualized 3.8 percent. In 2008, the US lost 2.97 million jobs, more than half of them in the fourth quarter. These and other trends are discussed as they affect small business. RNC Chairman Steele Pushes for More Small Business Aid Not all jobs are created equal according to recently elected Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele, who argues that the Obama Administration in making work than in creating lasting jobs. He is pushing for more of the econo... [Read Full Article]

Government and Economy Obama Argues for Stimulus Before House Expecting easy House approval of an $816 billion stimulus plan, President Obama said the nation is at a "perilous moment" that requires swift and decisive action from government. Fed to Use Every Tool to Help Economy The Federal Reserve has signaled that it will continue with the “unconventional tools” they have used so far to cushion the pain of the recession, including keeping interest rates at record lows. [Read Full Article]