Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, released the following statement regarding the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget for the Small Business Administration (SBA):

“In the State of the Union address, President Obama made clear the importance of small businesses to our economic recovery. Given the pivotal role small businesses play in job creation read more »

Sterling Financial Corp. announced a fourth-quarter loss attributable to common shareholders of $333.1 million, or a loss of $6.41 per share, which compares with a fourth-quarter loss of $356.3 million, or $6.87 per share a year earlier.

The latest quarter includes a $340.3 million charge that the Spokane bank company (NASDAQ: STSA), which owns Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank, set aside as an allowance for credit losses. read more »

You can learn a lot from a clown.

Wal-Mart is running a brutally slapstick and outrageously funny spot showing a dad dressed as a clown at his kid’s birthday party. The dad accidentally skewers his foot on a sharp-edged unicorn toy, screaming at the top of his lungs and sending panicked children running for cover.

The commercial dovetails nicely with the messaging that enabled it to navigate the downturn so skillfully — the purchase of the costume was made possible by the savings generated by shopping read more »

The Redmond company, which has a minority stake in the booming social networking site, said in a blog post that the companies are deepening their relationship in Internet search, working on new features and expanding into markets outside the United States. At the same time, the company says it will no longer be responsible for display ads on Facebook. Microsoft calls it a “mutual decision.” read more »

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna’s law enforcement bills have survived the first major hurdle of the 2010 legislative process. The AG’s proposals to update the state’s domestic violence protections, restrict access to child pornography to fight child sexual abuse and assault, and bolster protections for seniors facing physical abuse or financial exploitation have all received enough support to continue past the Legislature’s first committee cut-off date. read more »

A year ago, financially weary consumers were just getting accustomed to living with less. Now it appears they are growing more comfortable with their new-found thriftiness — and more resolute in their convictions to put the brakes on certain types of spending.

Nine out of 10 shoppers say they can live without indulgences like luxury handbags, high-end cosmetics and fine dining — things they began weaning off a year ago. They’re also willing to bid adieu to non-essentials like maid services, facials and satellite radio. read more »

More people want to know what they can do to help, as the staggering need continues growing in Haiti in the earthquake’s aftermath. The American Red Cross is advising that the greatest way to make a positive impact is to simply give donations in the form of money to help with the primary needs of food, water, shelter and medical help. read more »

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office lending in Washington State and Northern Idaho increased significantly in the first quarter of the federal government’s 2010 fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Compared to the first quarter of 2009, the total number of SBA loans increased 37 percent from 332 to 455 and the dollar volume of lending increased 85 percent from $79.1 million to $146.4 million. read more »