# ![](media/image1.png){width="1.63125in" height="0.83125in"} 

Volume 11 -- Issue 10 Contact: Chris Chavez (christopher.chavez@sba.gov)

## October 2005 Phone: (303) 844-0501/Fax 844-0506

####### SBA's Monthly News Update 

###### *-Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming-*

Newsline Eight is circulated to our resource and lending partners by
SBA's Region Eight Office

721 19^th^ Street, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80202.

**Elton W. Ringsak, Regional Administrator**

**James R. Henderson, Regional Advocate**

**Christopher Chavez, Regional Communications Director**

**Carol Helm, Regional Office Manager**

![](media/image3.png)***[Regional Administrator's Update by Elton "Mick"
Ringsak]{.underline}***

**Region 8's Lori Nevarez named National Minority Small Business Person
of the Year at September's MED Week event in Washington D.C.** Ms.
Nevarez is the founder of Littleton, CO based Innovar Environmental,
Inc. Started in 2000, Innovar is a woman-owned, 8(a) and
HUBZone-certified minority business with a vast area of expertise in
environmental consulting and construction. In Spanish, "Innovar" means
to innovate or be innovative. The company's name is indicative of
Nevarez's objective to ensure that her clients receive quality service
based on sound scientific principles using innovative solutions. Innovar
provides services to federal and state government agencies, commercial
and industrial firms and larger engineering and environmental firms. Her
unique perspective and expertise in the financial and environmental
consulting and construction fields gave her the ability to pursue her
dream in starting a company and working for clients in the government
and private sector. Ms Nevarez's goal at Innovar has always been to
attempt to find "innovative solutions" to a client's problems and needs.
It is not good enough to "*keep doing things the way they have always
been done*", one must always ask if work can be done differently; what
is the cost or time effectiveness to the client; will the work performed
produce a better product; and what is the impact to the environment. For
more information on this company, please visit their website at
www.innovar-env.com.

![](media/image4.png)**["In Your Corner" by Jim Henderson, Small
Business Advocate]{.underline}**

**EPA Helps Small Business With New Paperwork Reduction.** A revealing
new government report published b y the Office of Advocacy of the U.S.
Small Business Administration shows America's smallest firms bear the
largest burden of federal regulatory compliance costs.  Firms with fewer
than 20 employees annually spend \$7,647 per employee to comply with
federal regulations, compared with the \$5,282 spent by firms with 500
or more employees.  In fact, businesses with fewer than 20 employees are
annually spending 45 percent more per employee to comply with federal
regulations as large firms with 500 or more employees. 

**Page One of Three**

**Page three -- Newsline Eight -- October 2005**

            A large part of this disproportionate cost is in the form of
government paperwork.  These costs hurt the development and growth of
small business firms.  And, since small businesses create 60 to 80
percent of the country's net new jobs, more attention should be focused
on removing unnecessary paperwork burdens. The government report reveals
that environmental compliance requirements make up over half of the
regulatory burden for manufacturers, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency is getting the message.  EPA is proposing to
streamline the requirement faced by businesses to file annual reports on
their use and management of chemicals.  EPA's announcement to provide
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) paperwork relief is welcome news for
small business.  Fortunately, the paperwork relief does not come at the
expense of environmental safety, or make it harder for communities to
find out when a dangerous release of toxic substances has occurred.  In
fact, the TRI program requires reports on the use and management of
chemicals.  When there is a spill, accident, or accidental release,
companies are required to notify the authorities under various laws that
are working to ensure the safety of first responders and communities.
EPA is proposing that a simpler form (known as the Form A) be available
for facilities that report handling small amounts of chemicals.  With
this approach, akin to the 1040-EZ short form for taxes, businesses will
save an estimated 165,000 hours that would otherwise be spent filling
out the longer form.  EPA's proposal illustrates a basic principle of
good government: when small businesses have a seat at the table better
regulations emerge -- regulations that accomplish the goal of
environmental protection, and at the same time, recognize the
disproportionate impact regulations have on small businesses.  For more
information, go to www.epa.gov/tri.

![](media/image5.png)**[District Office Reports: Your SBA Event
Planner]{.underline}**

**Colorado** *--* **Financing Your Small Business Workshop to be held
Thursday, October 27^th^ in Denver.** This workshop is a "must attend"
event for entrepreneurs needing capital to start, grow or expand their
business. Participants will learn about SBA's various finance programs,
learn the basics on how these programs work, give tips on how to prepare
for the loan application interview, and find lenders in their area that
can finance their dream business. The class is FREE, and will be held at
the SBA's Colorado Di strict Office, 721 19^th^ Street, Su ite 426,
Denver, CO 80202. You must pre-register for the class by calling the
SBA's Jay Edwards at 303-844-2607 X 231.

**Montana** **-- The Montana Economic Developers Association will hold
its annual meeting November 2nd-4th at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in
Whitefish**. Presentations will include "Leveraging Workforce Resources
for Economic Development Success" (a PPL Montana sponsored training),
"Focus on Certified Regional Development Corporations" (including
roundtable discussions, how-to\'s, updates and success stories),
"Celebrations", Program Updates and many other critical tools that you
may want to add to your economic development tool box. There will also
be a special 25^th^ Anniversary Celebration for the SBDC network which
will include presentations by SBA, SBDC, NxLevel Program, and awards
presentation for the Microbusiness of the Year. For additional
information regarding the conference contact MEDA at (406) 563-5259.

**Page three -- Newsline Eight -- October 2005**

**North Dakota** \-- **\"Entrepreneurship and the Arts: Expanding
Markets Through the Use of the Internet\" to be offered on October 22nd
at the Holiday Inn in Grand Forks, North Dakota.**  This day-long event
will focus on assisting the artistic community in expanding their
markets through the use of the internet. Featured topics will include:
marketing benefits for the Arts on eBay; cross promotion of eBay sales
and other websites; market potential; developing, maintaining and
driving traffic to website; ND Council on the Arts; Introduction to New
Bohemia; basic business planning topics; and a panel of successful
artists utilizing the internet.  The cost of this event is \$30.  For
more information, contact Dawn Keeley at (701)352-3550.

**South Dakota --** **The Enterprise Institute will host its Innovation
Expo™ on October 19^th^ in Sioux Falls.** The expo, which begins at 8:30
am, will be held at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center. A
partnership with the Governor\'s Office of Economic Development,
Innovation Expo™ brings the interchange of ideas among entrepreneurs,
inventors, vendors, service providers and industry colleagues. The
morning presentations include Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities,
Venture Capital: Funding Innovation and Developing Your Team. The full
day event is only \$30.00. Partial day options are outlined on
registration forms. Register online at
[www.sdei.org](http://www.sdei.org/) or call (605) 697-5015.

![](media/image6.wmf){width="1.3798611111111112in"
height="1.2916666666666667in"}**Utah** -- **On November 2^nd^, the Utah
Women's Business Center will host the 29^th^ Annual Women & Business
Conference and Athena Award Luncheon.** This one-day personal and
professional development conference is targeted to business owners and
executives. Sessions focus on entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing,
communications, and work/life balance. The prestigious Athena Award will
be presented during the luncheon and six Pathfinders will also be
honored this year. The conference is open to everyone at any level of
business, so come and invest in yourself. Representatives from the SBA
will be on hand to answer questions relating to agency programs and
services. For more information contact ZeMin Xiao at 801-957-2027 or
email her at
[[zxiao@saltlakechamber.org]{.underline}](mailto:zxiao@saltlakechamber.org)

 

**Wyoming --** **The Wyoming GRO-Biz office will hold its "Veteran Owned
Business Conference" on October 19th in Rock Springs**.  The Conference
will be held at the Holiday Inn, and Participating agencies include: 
GSA, Veterans Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, Hill AFB, SBA,
and the National Park Service.  There will be opportunities to attend
training sessions or to meet one-on-one with officials from the various
agencies.  All presentations and training will be targeted to veteran
owned businesses and the opportunities they have in the government
contracting arena.  Lunch is included with your registration and will
include a presentation by The Center for Veterans Enterprise. 
Registration will be \$60 on or before October 10th and \$70 after
October 10th.  Registrations after the 14th will have to be made on the
morning of the conference and will be \$70.  For more information please
contact Pat Stille, 307-362-2110 or Shannon Howshar, 307-637-5029 or
visit [www.gro-biz.com](http://www.gro-biz.com/) Seminars and
Conferences.