Free Disaster Recovery Training, Award Dinner Slated

WASHINGTON — Businesses everywhere are now operating on limited resources. Yet the survival of your company rests — particularly when faced with a disaster — on whether your key assets are protected. Developing a business continuity plan will not only reduce liabilities, but will ensure employee and customer retention, and may even reduce operational expenses.

On Tuesday, November 15, Agility Recovery Solutions and the US Small Business Administration will host an online webinar focusing on how preparedness affects a company’s bottom line. Agility President & CEO Bob Boyd will review the far-reaching financial impact of having a plan in place to recover after a disaster.

SBA has partnered with Agility to offer business continuity strategies via its “PrepareMyBusiness” website. Visit www.preparemybusiness.org to access past webinars and get additional preparedness tips.

The SBA provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

Also on that day, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) will honor its 2011 Eagle Awards recipients at its Annual Lenders & Partners Meeting. The Trumbull Marriott Merritt Parkway in Trumbull will host the Annual Lenders & Partners meeting Tuesday, November 15, at 7:30 am.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) lending in Connecticut increased significantly in the federal government’s 2011 fiscal year ending September 30, 2011. The increase in the dollar and volume of loans indicates positive activity within Connecticut’s financial industry as banks begin to take on more loans and small businesses are finding it easier to approach lenders. 

The increase is also not unique to Connecticut as many other New England states are benefiting from the impact of SBA lending and the economic stimulus efforts.

“One purpose of our Annual Lenders & Partners meeting is to publicly thank our partners for their tremendous support of the SBA and the Connecticut business communities by helping us to help Main Street businesses through the Jobs Bill,” said Bernard Sweeney, district director for the SBA.  “We look forward to continuing the growth in SBA activity and partnerships throughout 2012.”

To attend next week’s Annual Lenders & Partners meeting e-mail Moraima.gutierrez@sba.gov.