The following is a guest post from U.S. Congressman Scott Peters, representative for the 52nd District in San Diego County. During National Small Business Week, Congressman Peters offers his perspective on the importance of investing in policies that grow our economy and create jobs by supporting small businesses in San Diego and across the country. On May 2, Congressman Peters toured four small business clients of CDC Small Business Finance in the 52nd District (photos below) and learned how the financing they received helped them grow.

At the heart of America is the idea that you can start your own business and build it to be successful. In San Diego, we know supporting small business, entrepreneurs and start-ups is essential to economic progress and creating jobs.

In Congress, I’m working to expand access to capital so small businesses like yours can grow and create jobs. I’m also focused on reducing burdensome regulations so you can compete in the market and defend your intellectual property.

Congressman Peters’ May 2 small business tour of CDC Small Business Finance clients:
– Biosero
– Sherpa Clinical Packaging
– Clayton’s Coffee Shop
– JXR Constructors

See the Tour

It’s certainly not the only way we can help and during National Small Business Week I want to share information about a resource you may not know you have — my San Diego office and staff. Here are five ways my office can help small business owners in San Diego:

Ensure Agencies Honor Your Contracts
Have you been awarded a contract with a federal agency? Did you complete the work and are now having trouble getting paid? Was there an attempt to change the terms of the contract after the project was already started?

small business loan helped Sherpa expand
Kirtan Shelat shows Peters how Sherpa Clinical Packaging’s CAD-design cutting produces custom designs for packaging drugs for clinical trials.

If you signed a contract, your business deserves to get paid in a timely fashion. If that does not happen, our office can work with the federal agency to ensure they comply with the terms of the contract and pay you for your work.

If a federal agency is attempting to change the terms of a contract, we can intervene to ensure the new terms are amendable to both parties involved.

Help You Get a Special Certification
Are you looking for a competitive edge when bidding for contracts? Did you know you can certify your business to gain access to funding and specialized procurements?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers certifications including the Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification.

Under certain federal contracts, agencies are required to hire businesses with these certifications, so you have a better chance at winning a bid if you meet the criteria for one of these categories. By gaining a specialized certification, your business can access new opportunities to bid on contracts.

If your application is taking a long time to get approved or you’re bidding on a set-aside contract, we can contact SBA.

Help You Hire the Best Workforce

JXR Constructors CEO and veteran Jesus Ramirez (left) shows Congressman Peters project underway at V.A. Hospital

Are you trying to recruit workers from overseas?

In today’s global economy, businesses need to recruit the best and the brightest to remain competitive, and sometimes that means hiring someone residing in another country.

Our office can help ensure you are able to bring in top talent and produce new products in San Diego. If you recently applied for a work visa and can’t get a response from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), our office can check on the status of an application, determine if USCIS needs any additional information, and connect you with USCIS staff to make sure your application continues to move forward.

Dealing with the IRS

small business loan
Congressman Peters discusses Biosero expansion with CEO Tom Gilman

Have you been audited by the IRS? Did you receive an “Amount Due” notice? Are you having trouble obtaining non-profit status?

Congressional staff can reach out directly to the IRS to open lines of communication, help gain an understanding of the

issue at hand, and work to find a resolution, saving you both money and time, so you can focus on building your business.

Connecting you with local resources

Do you need personalized guidance on starting or growing your business?

Many entrepreneurs reach out to our office with ideas for starting a business but don’t understand the process for how to move it forward. We can connect you with organizations that specialize in small business development to help you turn your dream into a reality.

Congressman Peters toured the landmark Clayton’s Coffee Shop in Coronado with owner Mary Frese

Businesses often do not know about CDC Small Business Finance, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) and other SBA programs available to them, often free of charge. Each of these organizations has workshops, staff, and other resources to help get your business off the ground.

These are just some of the ways my office can work with local small business owners. I encourage anyone to contact us if you need help. Together, we can ensure San Diego small businesses continue to grow and thrive.

To contact my San Diego office, visit Congressman Scott Peters or call 858-455-5550.

Note: In case you missed it, here are a couple inspiring stories of other small businesses in the 52nd District that got the capital they needed to grow:
Mascot Factory
JXR Constructors