MARKETING AND NETWORKING
U.S. Small Business Administration | November 29, 2022
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (IATF) and Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (ACVBA) announced that the task force will hold their next set of virtual public meetings on December 7 and December 8, respectively, via Microsoft Teams.
"Both the IATF and ACVBA committee meetings serve as opportunities for participants to learn the latest on the state of veteran-owned small businesses and discuss how the SBA can continue to serve the military and veteran community,This quarter, participants will receive an important update on the SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification Program."
Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development, Larry Stubblefield.
WHAT: IATF and ACVBA Virtual Public Meetings
The IATF meeting will include committee member updates from the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Treasury, Defense, Labor; U.S. General Services Administration; Office of Management and Budget; North Carolina Business Center; the American Legion; VET-Force; and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition.
The ACVBA meeting will cover briefings from SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development on the SBA's Veteran Small Business of Financial Assistance, VA, and the Madison Services Group.
WHEN:
IATF Meeting
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST)
ACVBA Meeting
Thursday, December 8, 2022
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST)
WHO:
Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Veterans Business Development
Robert Bailey, ACVBA Chairperson, Veteran Small Business Owner
IATF and ACVBA Committee Members
Guest Speakers from Interagency Partners and Veterans Service Organizations
HOW:
The IATF will meet on Wednesday, December 7, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST) via this Microsoft Teams link. To join the meeting by phone instead, use 206-413-7980 and enter the Conference ID: 978023539#. The ACVBA will meet Thursday, December 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST) via this Microsoft Teams link. To join by phone instead, dial 206-413-7980 and enter the Conference ID: 674127009. Public comments and questions are strongly encouraged to be submitted in advance via email by December 6 to veteransbusiness@sba.gov. For technical support, please visit the Microsoft Teams support page. Meeting presentations and minutes will be available after both meetings at www.sba.gov/ovbd under the "Federal Advisory Committees" section.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.
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TECHNOLOGY
Zyxel US Channel | November 29, 2022
Zyxel Networks, a leader in delivering secure, AI- and cloud-powered business and home networking solutions, today announced the bundling of its robust Connect and Protect security service with select Zyxel WiFi access points. Available as a bundled option with Zyxel’s best-selling NWA1123ACv3 802.11ac Wave 2 Dual-Radio Ceiling Mount PoE Access Point and NWA110AX 802.11ax (WiFi 6) Dual-Radio PoE Access Point, the security service protects small business WiFi networks from cybersecurity threats and optimizes WiFi connectivity for the business and its patrons to improve connectivity and customer satisfaction.
Connect and Protect, which filters out any unsafe web content and prevents users from accessing dangerous websites, provides a high level of security for small businesses without the hassle of setting up complex security settings. As an added level of protection for both the business and its customers, the service ensures that users logged onto the network are unable to access the data streams of others, preventing malicious actors from spying on or stealing the information of others.
Features and Benefits of Zyxel Connect & Protect:
IP Reputation Filter – The cloud-based service accesses an expanding database of malicious IP addresses to block undesirable website content, and prevent data theft and security breaches.
Application Visibility with Throttling – Prioritizes bandwidth for business-critical applications, such as mobile POS systems, online streaming, and voice and video calls, to protect core applications and facilitate smooth business operation.
Ease-of-Management – The WiFi access points and Connect & Protect security features can be easily deployed and managed from anywhere using Zyxel’s Nebula Cloud Networking Solution.
“Wireless networks not only provide the network backbone that enables many small businesses to operate, but wireless access to the internet is increasingly becoming an expectation by their customers and vendors. However, the cyber attacks enabled by unprotected networks can result in serious damage to the business and liabilities to their customers,Deploying Zyxel APs with Connect and Protect enables businesses to leverage an extensive range of security features without the complexity often associated with setting up network security.”
Shawn Rogers, Market Development Manager at Zyxel Networks.
Connect and Protect (CNP) is available in two licensing options: CNP and CNP+. CNP features the IP reputation filter and CNP+ adds application visibility with bandwidth throttling. CNP and CNP+ licenses are available as bundles with NWA1123ACv3 and NWA110AX access points. CNP is offered as an optional license on WAC500 and WAC500H access points, and CNP+ is offered as an optional license on NWA210AX, WAX510D, WAX610D, WAX630S, and WAX650S access points.
About Zyxel:
Since their first day in business over 30 years ago, Zyxel has kept business and home users online with a focus on innovation and customer-centric service. In 1989, this was accomplished with analog modems. Today, the company combines the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud to deliver rapid, reliable, and secure networking solutions for business and home users.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Comcast | November 24, 2022
Comcast Corporation announced today that Comcast RISE, an initiative created in 2020 to help strengthen and empower small businesses hard hit by COVID-19, has met its goal of supporting 13,000 small businesses nationwide by the program’s close at the end of 2022. Comcast RISE is one of several programs that Comcast has overseen as part of Project UP that is aimed at closing the digital divide and achieving digital equity. With the program’s commitment now fulfilled, Comcast looks forward to introducing a new phase of Comcast RISE in 2023, which will continue the company’s efforts and help an even broader range of small businesses, while continuing to focus on diversity, inclusion, and community investment. To continue highlighting program recipients, Comcast has partnered with Philadelphia-area tech education and training nonprofit Hopeworks to develop and release an interactive map to encourage consumers to patronize Comcast RISE small businesses in their communities. U.S. small businesses were particularly hard hit by the pandemic, which is why Comcast RISE was launched in 2020. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research cited that Black-owned small businesses were hardest hit, suffering the steepest decline (41 percent), followed by Hispanic and Asian American-owned small businesses. In addition, according to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, women-owned businesses have been growing at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed. Comcast RISE was designed to meet that moment, and today’s announcement shows that goal was met. In total, Comcast RISE has provided over $110 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants to 13,000 small businesses owned by women and people of color – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian Americans, among others. We are incredibly proud of the work that the Comcast RISE team has done over its two-year term to help the small businesses we’ve worked with to not only survive, but also to thrive,” said Teresa Ward-Maupin, Senior Vice President, Digital and Customer Experience, Comcast Business. “We recognize that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and look forward to taking our learnings from this program as we find new ways to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses and entrepreneurs at the heart of our local communities. Comcast will be continuing its efforts to positively impact small businesses in 2023. We have seen that many small businesses are shifting from pandemic recovery to long-term growth, so it is only natural for the program to evolve. The next evolution of the program will focus on helping businesses of all types accelerate growth. Its offerings will include complimentary marketing, technology, financial grants, business consulting, entrepreneurship training, and other services.”
"Comcast RISE has helped me and my business thrive in so many ways. I received the $10,000 grant though the Investment Fund, which provided us with cash to use wherever our needs were.This grant allowed me to maintain payroll and supported my evolving business endeavors, such as the expansion of my mannequin business, which now offers a virtual and in-person headpiece workshop."
Judi Townsend, Owner and CEO of Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA
Comcast recently announced its final round of Comcast RISE recipients, which includes over 2,800 small businesses owned by people of color and women, that will receive a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv or computer equipment, Internet, voice and cybersecurity from Comcast Business. In addition, as part of round four of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, 500 more small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. will each receive $10,000 grants, bringing the total Comcast RISE Investment Fund recipients to 2,100 and the total dollar amount distributed to $21 million. For more information and for a full list of recipients, visit www.ComcastRISE.com.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About Comcast Business
Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.
About Effectv
Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional, and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers.
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