The MBDA helps leverage minority-owned businesses to fuel U.S. economic growth. They help minority businesses grow through public and private partnership, polic, and research.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.

The World Trade Centers Association stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the development agency that is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Contract opportunities are procurement notices from federal contracting offices. Anyone interested in doing business with the government can use this system to search opportunities. Opportunities include pre-solicitation & solicitation notices, award notices, & sole source notices.

Missouri General Assembly website includes state statutes, elected officials, legislature, hearings, bill search and legal codes.

The Department of Defense (DOD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program's portal to find resources and announcements.

YouTube video by the Department of Defense showing how small business can help the U.S. military. View to learn more about DoD's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

Learn about the Department of Defense, and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Get workshops and learning resources about marketing, accounting, IP and data rights, commercialization and other business topics.

NSF-funded center that works with scientists and engagement practitioners to build capacity, advance scholarship, grow partnerships and provide resources to help them demonstrate the broader impact (BI) of research in their communities and society.

The Disaster Recovery Guide for Small Businesses is designed as a working guide to direct you and your business through the steps of how to proceed post-disaster.

A simple guide to handling cash management, pricing and cost containment, supply chain management, and marketing during major business disruptions.

Frequently asked questions regarding the Paycheck Protection Program for small business.

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA.

This brief is the first in a series to explore economic indicators and impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that Missouri often follows national trends, tourism and recreation declines probably impacts the state similarly. Detailed Missouri sales and jobs data on hotel and related industries will take time to develop, so national trends on hotel occupancy and revenue and movie ticket sales are reviewed in this brief.

This brief discusses unemployment claims in the United States and Missouri and highlights industries initially impacted by COVID-19. Similar to the U.S., Missouri's unemployment claims, for the week ending March 28, have more than doubled from the prior week. Tourism-related industries and select retail firms impacted account for 18% of private sector employment. A detailed table shows how many of these businesses exist in core metro and rural counties in Missouri.

This brief discusses changes in revenue for various industries in Missouri, and highlights the meat processing industry which has seen disruptions due to COVID-19. Credit card transactions for the week ending April 11, compared to the same week in 2019, show how revenue has changed by select business activities. Meat processors are a major supplier to grocery stores and some are temporarily closing due to COVID-19 illness. If these closings persist, it will impact the state’s economy and food supply.

This brief discusses statewide unemployment claims due to COVID-19 and highlights county level impacts. Statewide, 12 percent of Missouri’s labor force filed unemployment claims between 3/15 and 4/18 due to COVID-19. Taney County, which has a large tourism industry, has been the hardest hit, with 35 percent of its labor force filing claims due to COVID-19. While many rural counties have seen fewer claims, those with meat processing operations have witnessed their claims rising in the last few weeks.

The purpose of this guide is to be the starting point of the planning process, and to get you, the small business owner, thinking about how to best prepare your business for any potential disaster.

Personal consumption expenditures account for almost 70% of the U.S. economy, and as a result consumer spending patterns drive job creation and household income. A recently released consumer purchase tracking tool shows that consumer spending declined before Missouri issued its stay-at-home order. This suggests that public concern about the virus predated the policy response. Consumer confidence, household income, and other factors will influence future spending trends.

By the mid-May 2020, most consumer-focused Missouri businesses (77%) were open, compared to 58% of Missouri businesses operating in mid-April. Being open for business does not mean revenues are back to pre-COVID levels. Revenue for operating firms is mixed; some businesses are above last year’s revenue levels while others are substantially lower. These data provide a window into changing revenue patterns, across areas and industries that will be useful to follow as Missouri businesses reopen.

Nearly 25% of U.S. employees occasionally worked from home prior to COVID-19, and only 15% had dedicated telework days. In recent months that figure has drastically changed as over 6 in 10 jobholders, by mid-April, were working from home. Most employees will move back to past work situations as businesses reopen, but some remote work will stay in place. The increase in telework opportunities has longer-term investment and skill implications for Missouri.

Relative to the U.S. average, consumer spending in Missouri has more quickly returned to January 2020 levels. At the end of March — the lowest spending point since the pandemic began — Missouri household spending had dropped 35% compared with January. By June 17, households spent nearly as much as they did in January. Spending has rebounded the least among high-income households, as total spending is still 8% lower than in January. Consumers have continued to most restrict spending on restaurants, transportation and arts, and entertainment.

Self-employment becomes more important during periods of economic uncertainty. In light of the recession caused by COVID-19, many more Missourians may pursue self-employment as a means to create their own jobs or earn supplemental income. Trends in nonemployer establishments show where individuals find opportunities to earn extra income or create their own jobs.