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Federal Governmental Assistance Services

Federal Governmental Assistance Services

The federal government provides many resources to help entrepreneurs.

  • U.S. Census Bureau - Economic Census: Provides data to help businesses compare industries and locations, develop business plans and locate facilities, define markets, gauge the competition, attract investment, manage sales and assess efficiency. Statistics are published for more than one thousand industries, as well as for states, counties, cities and metropolitan areas online. (24) 
     
  • FirstStep Employment Law Advisor: Designed to help employers determine which federal employment laws administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) apply to their business or organization, what recordkeeping and reporting requirements they must comply with, and which posters they need to post. (24)
     
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
     
    • Tax Information For Businesses: The IRS website provides links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business. It also provides information to assist in making basic business decisions. Some related topics are: Employer ID numbers (EIN), small business/self-employed, starting a business, operating a business, closing a business, employment taxes, etc. (24)
       
    • Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) - Improving the IRS: TAP listens to taxpayers, identifies taxpayers' issues, and makes suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. (23) 888.912.1227
          
    • Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) - Your Voice at the IRS: TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems. TAS helps taxpayers resolve issues they’re having with the IRS through multiple services and programs, including: Case Advocacy, Systemic Advocacy, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. (24)
       
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Offers resources designed specifically for smaller employers. Their free On-site Consultation Program provides on-site assistance to small employers in protecting their workers from potential occupational hazards. (24)
     
  • USA.gov: Small Business: This government website has links to resources for exporters, minority-owned businesses, Native Americans, nonprofits, rural businesses, self-employed, small businesses, and women-owned businesses. (24)
     
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)  
    The SBA delivers a variety of support and services: 
     
    • Arizona District Office, 602.745.7200

    • Answer Desk: Free information center that answers questions about starting or running a business and how to get assistance. 800.827.5722
       
    • Office of Advocacy: Works to reduce the burdens that federal policies impose on small firms and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. For more information, visit the SBA website or contact the regional representative. 
       
    • Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO): Promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through programs that address business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and marketing opportunities, including federal contracts. 602.745.7207 
      • Prestamos CDFI Women's Business Center (WBC): Assists women-owned businesses through education, technical assistance, and access to capital. They also help with government procurement opportunities, and certifications for government contracting. Hosted by Chicanos Por La Causa Prestamos and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). (24)
         
      • Women’s Business Center of Southern Arizona (WBC): Provides comprehensive business and management training, one-on-one business counseling and wrap around professional and personal development services to equip individuals with the confidence and tools they need to start and expand their businesses. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted by Microbusiness Advancement Center and managed by the YWCA of Southern Arizona. (24)
    • Office of Native American Affairs: Ensures that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary business development and expansion tools available through the SBA's entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs. (24)
        
    • Veteran-owned businesses: A Veterans Affairs Officer is available to counsel veterans on the variety of SBA programs and services offered. (22) 602.745.7230
       
    • Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC): Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. (24)
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
    The VA OSDBU mission is to enable Veterans to gain access to economic opportunity by developing policies and programs, informed by customer feedback, that improve market research, increase direct access, and maximize the participation of procurement ready Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses in federal contracting. (24)