Outside Voices: Small Business
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What the Stimulus Package Means for Small Business
Continue reading… 7 CommentsThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the stimulus package, was signed into law by President Obama in February. It amounts to $787 billion in government spending, incentives, and tax cuts designed to kick-start the economy and create or save 3 million to 4 million jobs over the next two years.
There has been much debate about the merits of the stimulus package, especially as it relates to small business. But regardless of how you feel about the stimulus package, it is starting to create opportunities for small businesses.
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Clean-Tech Investment Is Falling: What Does It Mean?
Continue reading… 1 CommentThese days, clean technology is the rage among the political elites. And there is a great deal of support in Washington for companies developing these technologies. Unfortunately for the politicians, the venture capital market doesn't respond strongly to political rhetoric.
According to data recently released by NVCA, the National Venture Capital Association, investment in clean-technology start-ups fell 84 percent from the last quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009. The decline in clean-tech investment was much higher than the overall decline in venture capital investment, bringing clean-tech investment activity back to levels last seen in 2005, before the clean-tech investment craze began.
