VBOC of the Pacific

Any residents or business owners who were impacted by storms between Dec. 5-10, 2021 may be eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans. The U.S. Small Bu...siness Administration (SBA) is making these loans available to those in Honolulu, Maui County, and Kalawao. The loans can be used to repair or replace equipment for businesses, as well as repair or replace personal property for homeowners/renters and help them with improvement projects to prevent similar damage from occurring in the future. To learn more: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.

LEGAL CLASSES by USPTO Learn directly from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on how to protect one of your business’s most valued assets, your Intellectual Property, with a U.S. trademarks and patents. SESSION 1: Trademarks basics:... What every small business should know now, not later Learn directly from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on how to protect one of your business’s most valued assets, your Intellectual Property, with a U.S. Trademark. Topics to be covered: How trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, and business name registrations all differ The benefits of federal trademark registration Why it is important for any new business to select a trademark that will be both federally registrable and legally protectable Critical factors to consider when choosing a mark The importance of doing a complete search and whether an attorney should be used The USPTO’s role in the federal registration process How to get free and reduced-price legal help when applying for registration Presenter: Jason Lott, Attorney Advisor for Trademark Customer Outreach, USPTO Jason Lott is the Attorney Advisor for Trademarks Customer Outreach at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he specializes in helping small business owners understand trademarks and the federal trademark registration process through live presentations, creative videos, and other multimedia platforms. He has been with the USPTO since 2000, previously serving as an examining attorney, and is a recipient of multiple career service awards. SESSION 2: Patent basics: Introduction to patents for entrepreneurs Topics to be covered: Quick overview of intellectual property types: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets Why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider patent protection Understanding the risks of early disclosure Benefits of the provisional patent application Patent resources and assistance available through the USPTO Presenter: Cathleen Hutchins, Primary Patent Examiner, USPTO Cathleen Hutchins is a Primary Patent Examiner and Assistant Regional Outreach Coordinator of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Cathleen examines patent applications in the wellbore technology area and assists with community outreach for the Western Regional Office for the USPTO. Outreach efforts include programs for inventors, entrepreneurs, K-12 STEM activities, and other communities in the western region, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Prior to joining the USPTO, Cathleen was a manufacturing engineer for United Technology Corporation, working on aerospace applications. Cathleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Marquette University, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. No cost. Online. Open to everyone. Registration is required (links in the comments below)

Boots to Business: Reboot (B2BR) brings Boots to Business off the installation, extending access to veterans of all eras, National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses. This year we will offer specialized Boots to Business Reboot sessions online. Links in the comments below! #vetbiz #bootstobusiness

This three (3) parts make up a series will help small business owners maximize their potential of selling and being noticed online. This training with a live Google Professional is held three consecutive days for only one (1) hour each day, to respect your time running your business, and provide you with information you can immediately put to use. Part 1 - Feb. 15: Make your Website Work for You Using tools provided by Google (both free and fee based). Part 2 - Feb 16: Goog...le Analytics for beginners Learn to use Google Analytics to know how visitors to your website. Part 3 - Feb 17: Updates to changes in managing your Google Business Listing #GrowWithGoogle

REGISTER TODAY on Eventbrite at sbahi.eventbrite.com An in-person meeting will be held at the Aiea Elementary school cafeteria. Registration is required and seating is limited on a first come first served basis. To reserve your seat, please email [email protected] or call 808-460-8968

Trying to reach new customers can be expensive. But there’s one thing you can do that won’t cost you a cent: Organic Marketing. About this event Get a refresher on some key branding fundamentals and let’s explore some of the pillars of organic marketing such as SEO and Social Media to learn how to turn followers into buyers.... Sign up today and we'll discuss different ways to grow your followers and customer base, organically: https://lnkd.in/gBhRVDU #marketingstrategy #vetbiz #socialmedia

U.S. Small Business Administration's virtual OCONUS Military Spouse Entrepreneur Summit w/ Hiring Our Heroes takes place this week! Hear from small biz experts. Join us on May 21 at 9-11:30 a.m. JST. Register: https://bit.ly/3xfu5R4 #SBAMilSpouseSummit

SVOG Application Portal Reopens TODAY: How to Prepare The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal reopened today at 12 p.m. EDT. If you are planning to apply, follow the steps below. Remember to register on the portal in advance at https://www.svograntportal.sba.gov/s/ First use the checklist (http://bit.ly/svogchecklist) to make sure you have everything you need to complete your application. Review additional resources at sba.gov/svogrant such as the applicant u...ser guide (http://bit.ly/svoguserguide) and FAQ (http://bit.ly/svogfaq). Keep these resources open throughout the application process. Then register on the SVOG portal. The ability to register will be temporarily suspended between 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT to ensure a fair process and prepare the site for opening. Then begin the application process on the SVOG portal (https://www.svograntportal.sba.gov/s/). Every user will be temporarily placed in a virtual waiting room and will be able to start their application in the order in which they arrived. For technical assistance such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance. The call center is now open 24/7. See more

We are so proud of Kamisha Hill- Huffin and her business Eye Catch’n! In this interview we are talking about lessons learned, best practices and tips for new entrepreneurs. How to start, grow and thrive even during pandemic! 5 years and business and counting! Happy Anniversay Eye Catch’n!... Thank you for sharing your story! Can you relate? What's your story? #vetbiz #vboc

Submit Your Application for the Opportunity to Receive a Grant to Grow Your Small Business! Don't let the deadline pass you by! Submit your application for the StreetShares Foundation $25,000 Military Entrepreneur Challenge before the May 29th deadline. ... The final three will pitch live at the StreetShares Foundation virtual entrepreneurship coaching event on June 17th! Apply now: https://bit.ly/3vcaFLe #vetbiz