Latest news with #SmallBusinessDevelopment
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley pitches $10K grants to boost small businesses
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has announced a potential new funding avenue for small businesses. Crowley introduced the county's Department of Administrative Services' "Building Bridges" program, which aims to expand businesses or help establish brick-and-mortar businesses and fuel commercial corridors across the county. In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported roughly 20,000 small and micro businesses in Milwaukee County — an increase of 4.7% since 2012. "We all know small businesses are the backbone of Milwaukee County's local economy," Crowley told supervisors at a May 12 hearing. "They create significant portions of local jobs. They add value to our tax base and help to create our identity right here throughout our community." The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation had previously awarded $200,000 to the county through its Small Business Development grant. As a part of his pitch to supervisors, Crowley and his administration requested authorization to pull from the county's economic development reserve to fund the "Building Bridges" program, which would allow the county to support small businesses through grants of $10,000. The grants would be available and eligible in all 18 supervisory districts across Milwaukee County. At the county's finance committee on May 15, supervisors voted 4-1 to approve adoption of the proposal, with Supervisor Steve Taylor voting no and Supervisor Shawn Rolland excused from the meeting. The County Board of Supervisors will take a vote on May 22. The program would collaborate with the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Southeastern Wisconsin, the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, and UW Extension. The Building Bridges program would also create a four-year, limited-term small business liaison position focused on fostering communication, collaboration and partnerships between Milwaukee municipalities and the local business community. Additional funds will be put toward marketing and branding. Among previous efforts to leverage support for Milwaukee's small businesses, the county has infused $1 million in small business grants for entrepreneurs over the last five years, and eight loans valued at $1.3 million for small businesses. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Daviid Crowley pitches $10K grants to boost small businesses
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Spaza shop registration: A mere 6% have been licensed, says Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says out of a total of 87,407 spaza shops that have been registered, just over 5,000 have been issued with licences. Image: File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS A mere 6% of registered spaza shops have been issued with licences, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said. Ndabeni-Abrahams disclosed that a total of 87 407 spaza shops have been registered since the registration was closed. 'Out of that 87 407, 54 583 are owned by South Africans while 32 824 are owned by non-South Africans. "And out of that number, only 5 456 have been issued licences,' she said. Ndabeni-Abrahams gave the figures during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, when ANC MP Cristopher Malematja enquired about the number of spaza shops that have been registered since the expiry of the deadline for their registration. She told MPs that the process of registering spaza shops was the competency of the municipalities. 'The numbers that I'm presenting here are numbers that we have received from the report as we work together with the Department of Cogta. "In order to make sure that we also verify the information that we have received, our teams are able to then account for the numbers that have been verified.' The registration of spaza shops was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa last November following the deaths of at least 22 children after a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses were reported across all provinces. Ramaphosa announced that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities should be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days. Those that were not registered within the stipulated time and did not meet all health standards and requirements were to be closed. However, the initial deadline was extended amid integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams undertaking compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesaler and retailers. In a follow-up question, Malematja enquired about the specific legal, administrative and operational criteria utilised by Ndabeni-Abrahams's department and its agencies to assess compliance during the spaza shop registration process. He also asked about the number of shops that have been closed due to non-compliance since the expiration of the registration deadline and reasons cited for their his closure. In response, Ndabeni-Abrahams cited the Businesses Act, the National Consumer Protection Act, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and the National Health Act as the legislation to ensure compliance by the spaza shops. 'All of these seek to do the most important things, address the challenges that talk to the absence of valid trading licenses or permits and look into the failures that are there to register businesses with appropriate authorities.' However, Ndabeni-Abrahams said they were awaiting an updated report from the NatJoints of the number of the spaza shops that will be closed or that have been closed since the registration process. Ndabeni-Abrahams said the R500m fund that has been established with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has not dispensed monies as yet, pending the verification of spaza shops. She explained that the fund will benefit compliant South African-owned businesses and those owned by those foreigners naturalised prior to 1994. Cape Argus
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Only 6 percent of 87,000 newly registered spaza shops have been issued with licences
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says out of a total of 87,407 spaza shops that have been registered, just over 5,000 have been issued with licences. Image: File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS The number of registered spaza shops that actually have been issued with licences sits at a mere 6%, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said on Wednesday. Ndabeni-Abrahams disclosed that a total of 87,407 spaza shops have been registered since the registration was closed. 'Out of that 87,407, 54,583 are owned by South Africans while 32,824 are owned by non-South Africans. And out of that number, only 5,456 have been issued licences,' she said. Ndabeni-Abrahams gave the figures during the question and answer session in the National Assembly when ANC MP Cristopher Malematja enquired about the number of spaza shops that have been registered since the expiry of the deadline for their registration. She told MPs that the process of registering spaza shops was the competency of the municipalities. 'The numbers that I'm presenting here are numbers that we have received from the report as we work together with the Department of Cogta. In order to make sure that we also verify the information that we have received, our teams are able to then account for the numbers that have been verified.' The registration of spaza shops was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa last November following the deaths of at least 22 children after a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses were reported across all provinces. Ramaphosa had announced that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities should be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days. Those that were not registered within the stipulated time and did not meet all health standards and requirements were to be closed. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ However, the initial deadline was extended amid integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams undertaking compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesaler and retailers. In a follow-up question, Malematja enquired about the specific legal, administrative and operational criteria utilised by Ndabeni-Abrahams's department and its agencies to assess compliance during the spaza shop registration process. He also asked about the number of shops that have been closed due to non-compliance since the expiration of the registration deadline and reasons cited for their his closure. In response, Ndabeni-Abrahams cited the Businesses Act, the National Consumer Protection Act, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and the National Health Act as the legislation to ensure compliance by the spaza shops. 'All of these seek to do the most important things, address the challenges that talk to the absence of valid trading licenses or permits and look into the failures that are there to register businesses with appropriate authorities.' However, Ndabeni-Abrahams said they were awaiting an updated report from the NatJoints of the number of the spaza shops that will be closed or that have been closed since the registration process. 'Those that have heeded the call to get registered will not be affected. We have given them a space of six months to make sure that they are compliant,' she said, adding that a fund has been established to assist them with compliance. 'Once we get the report from the NatJoints that is updated on the specifics in terms of those that are not compliant, we'll be able to then provide it to the House and other honourable members.' Ndabeni-Abrahams said the R500m fund that has been established with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has not dispensed monies as yet, pending the verification of spaza shops. She explained that the fund will benefit compliant South African-owned businesses and those owned by those foreigners naturalised prior to 1994. 'The reason to establish that fund is mainly to assist South African-owned spaza shops to make sure that they don't get closed - those that are not compliant - but also to help them create a competitive edge over the partners that they are competing with.'
eNCA
01-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Ndabeni engages township entrepreneurs
NEW BRIGHTON - As G20 events continue countrywide, the Eastern Cape leg of the G20 provincial launch has wrapped up in New Brighton, Gqeberha. Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni led conversations on the informal and township economies which are aimed at boosting growth. But not everyone is pleased. Ndabeni admits that excessive red tape hinders access to government funding, but says her department has created a funding policy to simplify the process for small businesses. The minister says her department will do more to ensure institutions provide funding while also giving clear reasons should applications be declined.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government eyes maritime sector to revive job creation, stimulate growth
The government has sought to harness the economic promise of its vast coastline. As South Africa faces sluggish economic growth and alarmingly high youth unemployment, Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, believes the country's oceans economy could offer a powerful solution. For several years, the government has sought to harness the economic promise of its vast coastline through Operation Phakisa, launched in 2014 as a bold initiative to drive job creation and stimulate economic growth in maritime sectors. At the time, a study by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University estimated that South Africa's oceans could contribute approximately R54 billion to the country's GDP and create around 316,000 jobs. Additionally, analysis conducted in 2013 projected that nine sectors within the oceans economy could generate between R129 billion and R177 billion in GDP by 2033. However, despite these efforts, South Africa has yet to fully reap the vast potential of its oceans economy. In a post on X formerly Twitter on Wednesday, the minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to investing the in oceans economy.
