SBA Preparing Program to Reach, Aid the Disabled

In Los Angeles and other major urban centers, only about 30% of employable people with disabilities have jobs, according to city figures.

But the federal government reports that people with disabilities have higher rates of self-employment and small-business experience than the general population--even though they don’t always know about available assistance.

In hopes of improving those rates, the Small Business Administration said this week it will launch a program to reach and aid people with disabilities in their efforts to start small businesses. The plan, to be unveiled after the first of the year, will begin by training SBA and other employment center workers in how to reach disabled persons, said Bettie Baca, an SBA senior advisor for entrepreneurial development.

SBA workers will also begin providing information and training for people with disabilities on how to gain access to federal contracts and grants.

“Some people, because of disabilities, find it easier to work at home,” Baca said. “Because of the technology, there are more opportunities now for people to work at home.”

*

Women Investors Catching Up: Although it’s true at the moment that fewer female business owners invest in the markets than their male counterparts, they’re on their way to catching up, a women’s business group reported today.

Female entrepreneurs who do not now invest in stocks or mutual funds were twice as likely as their male counterparts to say they will begin to play the markets in 1999, according to the National Foundation for Women Business Owners.

The foundation, along with National Discount Brokers and womenCONNECT.com, found that 55% of women business owners already invest in stocks or mutual funds, compared to 67% of men.

Male business owners also have more money invested; 36% of them have $100,000 or more in the markets, compared to 17% of women.

Marina Grant, a board member of the foundation and owner of Grant Communications, a Southern California employment law service, said the growing number of women investors is part of the maturation of female business owners.

*

Economic Optimism Down: Small-business owners in California expressed diminishing confidence in the economy in a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. According to an October study of California small-business economic trends, the “business optimism index” is down a point and a half from the July report.

What’s more, 33% of California small businesses surveyed expected the economy to weaken, the group reported; just 12% of California small businesses expect the economy to improve.

Seminars for Entrepreneurs: Beginning in January, UCLA will offer a series of five daylong Saturday seminars on owning, operating and expanding small- and medium-sized businesses. The series costs $375; individual seminars are $95. More information is available at (310) 206-1579.

*

Abigail Goldman can be reached at (213) 237-7037.