SBA Launches Online Community for Small Businesses

On Wednesday, March 18, the Small Business Administration Business Gateway Program announced the launch of a new Web initiative, Community.Business.gov, the first government-sponsored online community built specifically for small businesses. SBA noted that among the community's aims is "to provide small business owners, bloggers, and the government with a place to discuss and share information about starting and running a successful business."

An extension of Business.gov, the Business.gov Community combines discussion forums, blogs, an idea exchange, and more, and offers advanced tools for navigating the labyrinth of government resources, policies, laws, and opportunities that impact the small business owner. In addition to providing a "home" where users can share expertise and unique experiences, the site also provides a pioneering opportunity for small businesses to provide direct input into Business.gov and voice the ways government and the online community can better serve them.

Over the next few months, the Business.gov Community will expand to include additional features and resources that address specific user interests and provide access to the wider pool of government and Business.gov partner resources available to the small business owner.

See, also, this week's story detailing the Obama Administration's plans to help small businesses, which were announced on Monday, March 16.