CASPER – Jeremy Ross and his wife, Tyler, are owners of JTR Excavation, a company that specializes in site excavation, underground utility installations, trenching, road construction, erosion control and more. Jeremy had experience in the construction industry and Tyler brought an extensive background in accounting when the couple decided to strike out on their own in 2014.

JTR Excavation, like many small businesses, started from humble beginnings. Jeremy took small jobs doing light “dirt work” for oil field operations, but, while working on a job in Utah, he heard about the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program.

“I met a guy who told me I should look into the 8(a) program. I had never heard of that program before, and he just mentioned it was for minority-owned or disadvantaged businesses,” Ross said. “So, I looked into it, and I thought it might help us be competitive in the government contracting space. I’m registered with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, so we took that route.”

The Ross family leaned on SBA Wyoming District Office Deputy Director Deb Farris and the Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for help navigating the program and its requirements.

“The PTAC was amazing, and Deb Farris is a godsend, let me tell you,” Ross said. “She’s been with us every step of the way and has always been willing to help us whenever we have a question. These folks have definitely made the process a smooth one.”

The 8(a) program is a robust nine-year program created to help firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. SBA partners with federal agencies to ensure equitable access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace. Once certified, 8(a) program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting preferences and receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.

The Ross’ first government contract was a roughly $30,000 road-blading job. After completing that job successfully, the couple looked to bid on a larger contract from the U.S. Forest Service but were told they’d need surety bonding in order to qualify.

Surety bonds help small businesses win contracts by providing the customer with a guarantee that the work will be completed. Many public and private contracts require surety bonds, which are offered by surety companies.

When the couple had trouble finding bonding, they again reached out to the SBA for assistance.

“Deb helped us utilize SBA’s surety bond guarantees and was really helpful in pointing us in the right direction,” Tyler Ross said. “Today, we can get between $2 million and $3 million in bonding, and I don’t think that would’ve been possible without the SBA.”

The SBA guarantees surety bonds for certain surety companies, which allows the companies to offer surety bonds to small businesses that might not otherwise meet the requisite criteria.

Over the years, Jeremy and Tyler have continued to perform excellent work in both the public and private sectors. The company currently has four employees and is looking to hire more. The couple has also spent time helping other businesses navigate the complexities of government contracting.

“Wyoming is a small state and, as a business owner, you often meet and develop relationships with other entrepreneurs,” Ross explained. “Where possible, we’ve partnered with other small businesses to help them strengthen their ability to secure contracts.”

Jeremy Ross also credits Tyler for her ability to create proposals and manage the company’s finances.

“We make a good team, because while I can handle the jobs themselves, Tyler is the one who really helps us secure the contracts in the first place,” Ross said. “Businesses sometimes forget contracting officers are people just like us, and if you can put together a proposal in a way that makes sense and makes their life easier, you’re going to be ahead of the curve from the beginning. Tyler is awesome at that – she’s precise, timely and keeps us on track.”

For more information on SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, please visit www.sba.gov/federal-contracting or call the SBA Wyoming District Office at 307-261-6500. The Wyoming PTAC can be found at www.wyomingsbdc.org/ptac. Information about Surety Bond Guarantees can be found at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds.

SBA Wyoming District Office, Big Sky VBOC Partner to Host Free, Veteran-focused Business Seminar

The SBA Wyoming District Office and the Big Sky Veterans Business Outreach Center have partnered to host a free business seminar for veterans, spouses and survivors titled “Boots to Business: Reboot” on April 19, 2022. The event will be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott (Casper) from 8:30 a.m. 3:3o p.m. MT.

Participants will be introduced to the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to launch a business, including steps for developing business concepts, how to develop a business plan, and information on local resources available to help in their community.

In addition to content delivered by subject matter experts, participants will hear from a panel of successful veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. After completion of the course, participants can elect to further their study through the B2B Revenue Readiness online course, delivered through a partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU). Agenda Includes:

• Introduction to Business Ownership
• Basics of Opportunity Recognition
• Understanding Markets & Your Competitive Space
• The Economics of Small Business Startup
• Lunch Hour Panel Discussion (free lunch provided)
• Legal Considerations
• Financing your venture
• Introduction to Business Planning
• Resources to Support Your Efforts in Wyoming

Local subject matter experts to include: The Small Business Administration’s Wyoming District Office, Wyoming Small Business Development Center, Veterans Business Outreach Center and more!

Register Here

Why is Location Important for Websites and Social Media? (Wyoming SBDC Network Biz Tip)

One of the services that we offer at the Wyoming SBDC Network Market Research Center is no-charge analysis and recommendations for websites and social media. Basically, we dive into the weeds on websites and social media accounts and make recommendations that will help folks improve how their internet presence works.

Why Physical Location Matters for Online Presence

One of the more common things that I see is something that seems trivial, but which can have huge impacts on whether your website or social media account is reaching your audience. This is the presence information on your physical location.

In the past few years more and more businesses have gone online. Many of these can be work-from-home businesses, businesses without store fronts or businesses that don’t have a physical location that they want published. This might be the case for those who work from home, who work part-time at a “side hustle” or don’t have an address in a standard retail or office location. Many of these businesses are great at what they do, but if you don’t include an address web browsers and social media can’t direct potential customers to your site.

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Make Smart Choices!

By: Patty Brewer, Export Finance Manager, SBA Office of International Trade

As I drop my kids off at school, I hear other parents telling their children – Make Smart Choices Today! That’s great advice, not just for kids.  I could take that advice as I plan my lunch – should I pick the nice salad filled with healthy choices, or that pepperoni pizza dripping with melted cheese?  Needless to say, we have opportunities to make smart choices all day long.  Here’s one smart choice that you should not pass up – if you are a small business exporter investigating expanding your international sales into new markets – get in touch with your Exporter Network to help you find international partners.   

Whether you are looking for buyers, distributors, warehousing, or logistics assistance, you want to make sure your international partner is legitimate and reliable.  Several weeks ago, a small business owner called me excited about the foreign buyer with whom he was currently negotiating a very large sale. I encouraged him to reach out to the U.S. Commercial Service in Denver and within a few hours the business owner verified that the prospective buyer was a fraud. It was a very discouraging moment for the business owner, but it demonstrated the power of the information available at your fingertips. 

As you take advantage of international opportunities, check-in with your network of export experts to guide you long the way.  A large network of federal and state offices, as well as several non-profits, can provide counseling, training, and research during your export journey. 

Visit with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center where you can get counseling and training on writing your export business plan, digital marketing, and understanding financial statements. 

Next, go to the U.S. Commercial Service Denver to get market intelligence that will help you target the best trade opportunities.  The USCS also offers business matchmaking with overseas partners and prospects. 

As you develop your export strategy and draft your plan, you notice a need for cash. Several grant programs are available to offset costs for international marketing.  The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), administered by the Wyoming Business Council can provide grants to attend international trade shows.  For agricultural exporters, the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) provides a cost reimbursement on eligible international marketing expenses (Double your export marketing budget with WUSATA’s FundMatch).

Finally, the SBA’s Office of International Trade has developed three export loan programs for each stage of exporting.  The Export Express for export development, the Export Working Capital program to fulfil export orders, and the International Trade Loan for expanding exporter capacity.

Make smart choices today and reach out to your Exporter Network. Staff at the SBDC, WTC Denver, USCS, STEP, WUSATA, and SBA are ready to answer your international trade questions.

Patty Brewer is an Export Finance Manager with the SBA’s Office of International Trade.  Her territory includes Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.  She can be reached at 720-556-4664 or patricia.brewer@sba.gov.