http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/feed Website blog for www.d2dinc.com Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/interagency-task-force-on-veterans-small-business-development The SBA is conducting the fourth public meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development. The meeting will be held Friday January 20, 2012 from 9am to 12pm in the Eisenhower Conference Room, Side A & B, located on the 2nd floor at 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416.   The task force is directed at improving business and access to capital opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled VOSBs. The task force focuses on the following six areas: Access to capital (loans, surety bonding and franchising); Ensure achievement of pre-established contracting goals, including mentor protégé and matching with contracting opportunities; Increase the integrity of certifications of status as a small business; Reducing paperwork and administrative burdens in accessing business development and entrepreneurship opportunities; Increasing and improving training and counseling services; and Making other improvements to support veteran's business development by the Federal government.   The meeting is open to the public; however you need to contact Raymond B. Snyder, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans Business Development at vetstaskforce@sba.gov by January 13, 2012. Written comments should be emailed to the same email address.   Additional details and the Federal Register Notice are available at http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/10/2012-261/interagency-task-force-on-veterans-small-business-development#p-6. http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/interagency-task-force-on-veterans-small-business-development http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/national-8a-association-2012-winter-conference-update If you haven't heard, the National 8(a) Association 2012 Winter Conference is 2/7-8/12 in Florida. We previously posted information about the conference. All  of the details, including the updated agenda, are available on their website: http://www.national8aassociation.org/. Sounds like it will be a great event. http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/national-8a-association-2012-winter-conference-update http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/proposed-dol-regulations-for-hiring-of-disabled-persons Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Individuals With Disabilities   The US Department of Labor issued a News Release about a new rule that would require both Federal contractors and subcontractors to set a 7% workforce hiring goal for persons with disabilities. This is in addition to the current diversity requirement for workforce equality.   A key reason for the expansion of the current requirement is to maximize the employment of Service-Disabled Veterans, as well as other persons with disabilities.   The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is asking the public to comment on the proposal, which was published in the Federal Register's December 9, 2011  edition. A copy of the document is available here.   Your comments must be received on or before February 7, 2012 to ensure consideration. Comments may be submitted using any of the methods below. Be sure to include RIN number 1250–AA02 with your submission.   Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments Fax: (202) 693–1304 (for comments of six pages or less) Mail: Debra A. Carr, Director Division of Policy, Planning, and Program Development Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Room C–3325, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 http://www.d2dinc.com/blog/proposed-dol-regulations-for-hiring-of-disabled-persons