ASBA - Advance Small Business Alliance

The advent of new technologies, speedier communications and changing market conditions, along with the pace at which they have been introduced, has created a set of dynamics unique in the history of American small business. These circumstances have helped create unparalleled prosperity for our nation but also numerous financial challenges to maintain stability and growth expectations in failing economic times.

This evolution in the development of small businesses has brought so much to the American economy. Ironically, these businesses are threatened by some of the very forces that helped in their creation. Change, the most relentless of all forces, has made laws, regulations, and the manner in which we do things outdated, and a severe encumbrance to small businesses' economic achievement.

Particularly vulnerable to these archaic encumbrances is the business whose objectives rapidly advance it beyond the traditional considerations of small business. This unique passage creates new challenges that must be met if America is to accelerate its economic ascent.

Because of its fragmented nature, all of American small business, which represents more than half of the jobs in the nation, has long been without the voice that it deserves. Consequently, its needs often go unrequited or ignored. In some instances, government regulations are designed without consideration to the burdens that small business must bear.

It is these circumstances, along with the concern for the continued well-being of the nation, that the Advanced Small Business Alliance is created, offering a voice for Americans who continue to labor with the entrepreneurial spirit that fuelled the establishment of this country.

The ASBA is an independent organization created to study the issues that face advanced small businesses and speak with the authority that they deserve. Advanced small businesses are small companies that have developed a clear and rapidly accelerated path to becoming national or global leaders in their fields within a specified timeframe.

While they share many of the same challenges as traditional small businesses, they differ in that:
· They often are the creators of new technology, new services or other new concepts that create jobs, improve the world and drive our economy.
· Have no specific organized representation in industry or government today.
· Have greater and more complex capital needs.
· Face unique challenges in their staffing and support services, based on their rapid growth curve.

ASBA works with local and federal governments, and their agencies whose policies directly or indirectly affect the ability of small business to maximize their potential. The ASBA seeks to be a positive force, aiding all organizations that share its desire to advance the conditions for small business in America.

Recognizing that organizations already exist to support the small business person, the ASBA does not seek to duplicate efforts, cause disenfranchisement among constituencies or contest the direction or nature of these groups. It seeks to function in harmony with these groups to create a better environment in which small business - and the nation - can prosper.

Its preferred research arm is the Whitney Institute, named after the father of American technology and advanced small business, Eli Whitney. The ASBA will examine issues and offer solutions to all who seek to understand and affect the small business work place.

It devotes study, understanding and counsel to the unique role of advanced small businesses, supporting their emergence, encouraging their growth, and performing as a pathfinder through the thorn and thicket of government impediment. ASBA views the advanced small business as the key to America's future.

ASBA appreciates that the goals and needs of small businesses vary depending upon the size and nature of the enterprise. Despite their direction, all small businesses have much in common. Understanding this, ASBA's activities are directed toward working on such issues such as taxation, business regulation, employee benefits, access to capital, and other matters in the changing economic environment that affect all small business.

ASBA seeks to be action oriented, providing a voice for its members, and creating a foundation on which to generate consensus on issues that affect American advanced small business.

Membership in the ASBA is open to chief operating officers, chief financial officers and directors of companies that by nature are considered to be small businesses as generally defined by the guidelines of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Summary: That Advanced Small Business Alliance …
· Works in support of the interests of all small businesses, and specifically advanced small businesses.
· Is action-oriented.
· Provides a voice for the collective interest of its constituents.
· Provides the foundation for generating consensus regarding issues that affect American small business.
· Reaches out to members to provide information and resources.
· Actively interacts with federal and state governments to affect changes that will help small businesses grow and flourish.
· Gathers data to identify trends and issues in an effort to assess the business environment brought on by new technologies, market conditions, government regulations, etc.
· Provides any research available from the Whitney Institute, a think tank acting as a clearing house to academic studies of the economics of small business in America.
· Interacts with existing business organizations.


CHARTER STATEMENT: The advent of new technologies, speedier communications and changing market conditions, along with the pace at which they have been introduced, has created a set of dynamics unique in the history of American small business. These circumstances have helped create unparalleled prosperity for our nation but also numerous financial challenges to maintain stability and growth expectations in failing economic times. This evolution in the development of small businesses has brought so much to the American economy. Ironically, these businesses are threatened by some of the very forces that helped in their creation. Change, the most relentless of all forces, has made laws, regulations, and the manner in which we do things outdated, and a severe encumbrance to small businesses' economic achievement. Particularly vulnerable to these archaic encumbrances is the business whose objectives rapidly advance it beyond the traditional considerations of small business. This unique passage creates new challenges that must be met if America is to accelerate its economic ascent. Because of its fragmented nature, all of American small business, which represents more than half of the jobs in the nation, has long been without the voice that it deserves. Consequently, its needs often go unrequited or ignored. In some instances, government regulations are designed without consideration to the burdens that small business must bear. It is these circumstances, along with the concern for the continued well-being of the nation, that the Advanced Small Business Alliance is created, offering a voice for Americans who continue to labor with the entrepreneurial spirit that fuelled the establishment of this country. The ASBA is an independent organization created to study the issues that face advanced small businesses and speak with the authority that they deserve. Advanced small businesses are small companies that have developed a clear and rapidly accelerated path to becoming national or global leaders in their fields within a specified timeframe. While they share many of the same challenges as traditional small businesses, they differ in that: · They often are the creators of new technology, new services or other new concepts that create jobs, improve the world and drive our economy. · Have no specific organized representation in industry or government today. · Have greater and more complex capital needs. · Face unique challenges in their staffing and support services, based on their rapid growth curve. ASBA works with local and federal governments, and their agencies whose policies directly or indirectly affect the ability of small business to maximize their potential. The ASBA seeks to be a positive force, aiding all organizations that share its desire to advance the conditions for small business in America. Recognizing that organizations already exist to support the small business person, the ASBA does not seek to duplicate efforts, cause disenfranchisement among constituencies or contest the direction or nature of these groups. It seeks to function in harmony with these groups to create a better environment in which small business - and the nation - can prosper. Its preferred research arm is the Whitney Institute, named after the father of American technology and advanced small business, Eli Whitney. The ASBA will examine issues and offer solutions to all who seek to understand and affect the small business work place. It devotes study, understanding and counsel to the unique role of advanced small businesses, supporting their emergence, encouraging their growth, and performing as a pathfinder through the thorn and thicket of government impediment. ASBA views the advanced small business as the key to America's future. ASBA appreciates that the goals and needs of small businesses vary depending upon the size and nature of the enterprise. Despite their direction, all small businesses have much in common. Understanding this, ASBA's activities are directed toward working on such issues such as taxation, business regulation, employee benefits, access to capital, and other matters in the changing economic environment that affect all small business. ASBA seeks to be action oriented, providing a voice for its members, and creating a foundation on which to generate consensus on issues that affect American advanced small business. Membership in the ASBA is open to chief operating officers, chief financial officers and directors of companies that by nature are considered to be small businesses as generally defined by the guidelines of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Summary: That Advanced Small Business Alliance … · Works in support of the interests of all small businesses, and specifically advanced small businesses. · Is action-oriented. · Provides a voice for the collective interest of its constituents. · Provides the foundation for generating consensus regarding issues that affect American small business. · Reaches out to members to provide information and resources. · Actively interacts with federal and state governments to affect changes that will help small businesses grow and flourish. · Gathers data to identify trends and issues in an effort to assess the business environment brought on by new technologies, market conditions, government regulations, etc. · Provides any research available from the Whitney Institute, a think tank acting as a clearing house to academic studies of the economics of small business in America. · Interacts with existing business organizations.