This Week: Small Business Administration's Bob Giesfeldt

Updated! Listen to the show: SBA

In the studio with Diane this week is Bob Giesfeldt, Lead Business Development Specialist with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Wisconsin District-Milwaukee.

Make sure to listen to the live show and call in with your questions about starting and running a small business in Wisconsin.

About SBA's Wisconsin District Office
The Wisconsin District Office is responsible for the delivery of SBA's many programs and services to the 72 counties of Wisconsin. They have offices located in both Madison and Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin office assists several hundred businesses each year by providing financial assistance through the 7(a) and 504 loan programs. The Wisconsin SBA assisted 2,115 businesses in obtaining over $551 million in Loans, and we assisted with 72 Micro Loans in the amount of $1,280,261 for fiscal year 2010 that ended September 30, 2010.

Services Available
Over the years, the SBA has developed many small business loan and assistance programs, special outreach efforts and initiatives to aid and inform small businesses. The following describes briefly all the services and information available through this office:

• Free counseling, advice and information on starting a business are available through SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business.
• Financial assistance for new or existing businesses through guaranteed loans made by area bank and non-bank lenders.
• Free consulting services through the network of Small Business Development Centers. SBDCs also conduct training events throughout the district - some require a nominal registration fee.
• Women's Business Ownership Representatives are available to advise women business owners.
• Special loan programs are available for businesses involved in international trade.
• If you're a veteran, you can get business counseling and information about SBA guaranteed loans. In Wisconsin, contact Joe Rosner at (414) 297-1178. Joe can direct you to resource partners that best suit your business needs. SBA can also help veterans start or expand a business.