The Management Assistance programs are structured to aid in the establishment, growth and success of small businesses. Through counseling services, training programs, and publications, small business owner/managers are assisted in their goal for improving the management and efficiency of their businesses. Prospective business people are assisted in prebusiness planning and development. In addition to the permanent staff, volunteer management assistance groups and contractual assistance are used in achieving goals.

Justification

Changes in ongoing programs, priorities, and procedures are being made to make Management Assistance more responsive to the needs of SBA portfolio clients. Because of the expanding need of the small business community for in-depth, long term counseling, a concerted effort is planned in the area of SCORE/ACE recruitment and Chapter administration. A detailed evaluation of the Small Business Institute Program will shortly be completed to identify the impact of this program on small business clients. The 7(i) and 7(j) contracts (formerly 406 contracts) are needed to provide the intensive technical assistance required by an increasing number of eligible small businesses.

1. Management Counseling Services

In FY 1977, counseling resources will be made more effective
through broader development and improved utilization.

This will result in higher quality assistance to greater
numbers of clients.

69-202 O-76-30

New reporting procedures initiated in 1976 will provide more reliable statistics for analysis of results. The

FY 1976 statistical levels were projected to decline slightly because of increased emphasis on in-depth, continuing counseling. However, significant increases are projected for FY 1977 in all counseling resource areas.

Counseling by professional and trade associations, started in FY 1976, will become fully operational in FY 1977.

At the beginning of FY 1976, the responsibility for the SCORE/ACE program was transferred from the ACTION Agency to SBA. Single agency sponsorship enables more efficient program administration.

SCORE/ACE travel funds are vital to continue the following major efforts which were initiated in FY 1976:

SCORE volunteers are responding to our goal of doubling their efforts to provide in-depth, continuing counseling of SBA clients.

An expanded recruiting campaign is necessary to provide volunteers with specialized expertise. Expert volunteers in crime prevention will also be recruited. Technicallyoriented executives are needed to provide technology utilization and transfer. Various specialists are required because small businesses are faced with increasing problems with Federal and state government laws and requirements.

2.

Call Contracts

Top quality management consultants provide counseling on a
one-to-one basis, developing solutions to problems.
Approximately 6,225 small businesses will be provided this
service in FY 1977 for an average of 6.5 man-days for each
client. The program also provides follow-up. After 90 to
120 days the consultant often returns to the client's place
of business to review implementation progress.

Small Business Institute (SBI)

Three years' experience with SBI indicates that the program provides practical counseling to a wide range of small businesses. Furthermore, over 50% of the cases handled were minority.

In FY 1976, 20,000 students supervised by 2,000 faculty members, actively involved, will provide one semester of continuous consultant work by mature graduate and undergraduate students.

Professional and Trade Associations

We plan fully implemented operating agreements with 50 professional
and trade associations during FY 1977. These associations will
provide a high quality effective management assistance in their
specialized fields to the small business community and will
work closely with the SCORE and SBI programs.

Office of Management Information and Training

Management training continues to be one of the Agency's most
important "outreach" programs. For those already in business,
the training concentrates on local small business needs, such
as management for profit, crime prevention and productivity.

For those considering going into business, there will be more
comprehensive entrepreneurship training. While the Agency's
emphasis on required training for clients will continue, new
initiatives will reach further into the small business community
to gain improved management capability, especially among
minorities. Also a procurement training program will be used
to reduce dependency of 8(a) contractors on Government
assistance in getting business.