Press Releases

NEWS For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. – Following the swearing in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued a congratulatory statement: “There is much work to be done to bring our nation, economy […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The news on retail sales for December in the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau was worse than expected. Retail and food services sales for December declined by 0.7 percent compared to November, after a drop of 1.4 percent in November and a slight decline in October. Market expectations were […]

NEWS For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. – In a speech this evening, President-Elect Joe Biden outlined his Administration’s plan of action for combatting COVID-19 and accelerating economic recovery. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued the following statement in response to the plan of action: “Small business owners and […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book offers a decidedly mixed take on the struggle for economic recovery. Modest Increase in Growth Based on information from interviews with “key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources,” the Beige Book started off at least somewhat encouraging by noting, “Most […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The latest “Job Openings and Labor Turnover” report was just released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it points to little of substance changing in November regarding job openings, new hires and the quits rate. Meanwhile, the bigger picture provides a reminder that the U.S. economy remains in a […]

by Karen Kerrigan- The U.S. Treasury and SBA released new PPP guidance and application forms, which can be found here. Guidance is provided on first and second PPP draws, as well as early capital access for minority, veteran, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. This round authorizes up to $284 billion of PPP through March 31, 2021. As an FYI, $35 billion […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2021 Washington, D.C. – On January 7, President-elect Biden announced additional nominees for his economic team, including Isabel Guzman who has been nominated to serve as Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator.  Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued the following statement in response to […]

by Raymond J. Keating- After breathtaking losses in employment in March and April of 2020, a struggle to recover those jobs began in May and persisted, unevenly into November. However, as the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, that clawing back of jobs stopped in December. Establishment Survey The establishment survey […]

For Immediate Release January 7, 2021 Washington, D.C. – On January 6, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the final rule: Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan said that the DOL rule will bring more certainty and clarity to […]