Everyone in the market today knows small businesses are in dire need of capital and loans to finance their historic activity and their growth. It is clear that the biggest drag on the U.S. economy and the small business segment has been the US and global de-levering process. Federal, state, and local governmental bodies are shrinking in size and scope. Banks and other financial institutions due to losses during the credit crunch are reducing their balance sheet and ability to provide finance to this sector. Despite a federal reserve 0% interest policy, equity and debt capital are hard to come by and find for small businesses. The Small Business Authority is an active participant in providing debt and financing to all U.S. based businesses under certain guidelines and programs.

Read More at Forbes

President Obama urged Congress this week to pass legislation that he said would give small business owners tax breaks and incentive for hiring and increasing wages. His proposal would also eliminate some capital gains taxes for business investments.

The “Startup America” legislative agenda proposes to provide a 10% income tax credit on new payroll for small businesses that added jobs or increased wages in 2012 and to permanently double the amount of startup expenses entrepreneurs can deduct from their taxes to $10,000, according to a White House press release.

As Facebook files a monster IPO, small and medium-sized businesses can learn important lessons from the risks that are inherent in the social media giant’s investment strategy.

On Wednesday, Internet icon, Facebook, filed papers for an initial public offering worth $5 billion — the largest IPO since Google went public in 2004.

Facebook’s valuation is expected to come in at around $100 billion, which is nearly half of Google’s $188 billion valuation despite the fact that Facebook rakes in just a tenth of Google’s annual revenue.

While armchair entrepreneurs are drooling over the sheer dollar value of Facebook’s IPO, startup veterans know that the IPO will force Zuck and his team to walk a fine line, embracing several risks that are just as relevant to SMBs as they are to the world’s largest online social network.

Read More at Gaebler

An idea to help existing businesses that started in Denton has now gained traction in Thomasville. Lexington leaders should consider it, too. The main thrust is to make sure that established, small businesses can also receive incentives to expand or improve their property. Economic incentives are often thought of in terms of large manufacturers relocating to a new county, but small businesses drive job creation.

Read More at The Dispatch

The big United States banks have come under withering criticism for not lending enough to small businesses, but this week brings word that Citigroup, the parent of Citibank, will participate in a novel program to steer capital to small businesses that have an especially hard time getting it: those located in economically distressed areas. What’s novel about the program is that while Citigroup will provide most of the capital, it will not disburse it. Instead, it will rely on Next Street, a self-described “merchant bank,” to underwrite loans to businesses that Next Street deems capable of rapid growth. If the initiative succeeds, it could serve as a model for similar programs around the country.

More at The New York Times

Facebook files for $5 billion public offering: The social media company filed for a much-anticipated stock offering in which it plans to raise $5 billion, making it the largest ever initial public offering for a Web firm. Based on that figure, analysts say Facebook’s value could reach between $75 billion and $100 billion.

Read More at Washington Post

House Republicans plan to introduce legislation next month cutting small business taxes by 20 percent as the GOP steps up its election-year competition with President Barack Obama over which party is doing the most to create jobs.

Read More at Bloomberg

Three out of four (75 percent) small-business owners in the U.S. are confident about the future of their businesses, a new economic report shows. This is the highest level of small-business optimism in this country in the past three years and a jump from 64 percent of owners giving future prospects a thumbs-up just three months ago.

How do great leaders build strong relationships with key employees? Are they nicer than less successful leaders? Are they tougher? Do they maybe pay more money?

In my experience, it’s something else. Excellent executives know that strong professional relationships are built on mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual respect. Here are three steps they follow to build those feelings with key members of their staff. You can do the same.

Read More at Inc.