Big Green Breakthrough» Obama

Pres. Obama Wants to Give You Money

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:26:36 +0000

You know how I’m always saying that there’s never been a better time to start a business?

President Obama proved me right this week when he announced a three-part plan to free up lending to small businesses that includes $730 million to cut lending fees. This is on top of the billions in the stimulus package designed to promote development of companies that create green jobs!

Why the big focus on small biz?

“We know small businesses are the engine of growth in the new economy,” explained Christina Romer, chairwoman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. “We absolutely want to do things to help them.”

How exactly would the President’s plan help? HispanicBusiness.com explained it most clearly:

1) Allow small business owners to get loans of up to $2 million with government backing and government guarantees of higher loan amounts for major projects that create jobs.

2) Reduce risks to lenders who support small businesses by getting federal guarantees for the loans they make

3) Eliminate fees on small businesses.

Small businesses accounted for about 70% of new job growth over the past ten years, says the Obama Administration.

If you’ve read my Big Green Declaration for Change, you know that I believe small businesses hold the key not only to economic recovery, but to a new prosperity based on health and wellness, work-life balance, and environmental protection.

President Obama just made it easier to realize that dream.

There's always a scene in D.C.

admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:40:21 +0000

I don’t spend much time bar-hopping these days, but when my book agent throws a bash, I try to be there. Last night, I made it to a gathering she convened of the Washington, D.C. “literati” (her word, not mine), to mingle with other authors in town and commiserate on the challenges of putting the written word to the page. Robin Sproul, the Washington DC bureau chief of ABC News (pictured with me here, on the right), dropped by. The big talk of the night? What in the world took Obama so long to fix the Daschle problem. (Robin coordinate the press pool at the White House for the interviews Obama did yesterday; sounds like it was wild!).

What Did You Take Away from Obama's Speech?

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:42:19 +0000

Here are my favorite snippets:

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord…”

“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.“

“Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].”