SSI News and Announcements
PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release
SSI Provides Testimony to U.S. House Committee on Small Business
Washington, DC – September 20, 2016
Storage Strategies, Inc. (SSI) recently attended and provided testimony to a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Hearing on the issue of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) Program. The Committee heard prepared testimony from SBA’s Associate Administrator, Mr. John Shoraka, responsible for management of the HUBZone Program and Mr. William Shear, of the Government Accountability Office. GAO’s Shear testified regarding his organization’s most recent review of the SBA’s oversight of the program. Shear acknowledged the program has had made improvements recently correcting previously identified weaknesses with application processing timeliness and oversight but that improvement was still needed in the automated processes for communicating with Small Businesses and the re-certification process. SBA’s Shoraka testified regarding the agency’s increased efforts to advocate for the program and educate Government procurement workforce and local municipalities regarding the program’s benefits for local communities. Most notably, Shoraka pointed out a study and resulting policy decision to lift the 20 percent population cap on qualified census tracts in any metropolitan statistical area. Shoraka emphasized the agency’s commitment to remove unnecessary burdens placed on small businesses that have no merit. The SBA’s 20 percent cap decision allows the program to positively impact over 2,000 census tracts across the nation. The Committee’s members focused much of their attention on whether the SBA’s had the authority to remove the 20 percent cap. Other issues of concern for Members included SBA’s ability to identify and limit fraudulent participation in the program, improvement of SBA’s HUBZone Map functionality, and visibility into the program’s impact in communities.
To qualify for the SBA’s HUBZone program a small business must demonstrate U.S. ownership and control, establish a principal office in a HUBZone, and maintain an employee population of least 35 percent HUBZone residents. HUBZones are designated by the SBA based on data collected in the ten year U.S. census and the Department of Commerce’s American Community Survey. Census tracts qualify for the program if they have a poverty rate of at least 25 percent; or if 50 percent or more of its householders have incomes below 60 percent of the area median household income.
Steve Mackie, President of SSI, a Manassas Park based HUBZone small business, provided testimony to the Committee on their history with the program and impact on the local community. SSI has provided over 20 jobs for local HUBZone residents to staff a Career Resource Center (CRC) providing free IT skill coaching and job search assistance to local residents. Local residents are hired, trained and certified as Microsoft Office Specialists and then employed as CRC Customer Service Representatives. SSI partners with the local Manassas Park High School to register students hired into the school’s work-study program helping them to earn credit toward graduation. Mackie made an appeal for the Committee to extend the current three-year grace period after a HUBZone loses its qualified status. Mackie pointed out businesses need time to realize a return on the significant investments made when moving into a HUBZone and to gracefully transition its workforce. Mackie lauded the SBA’s decision to lift the 20 percent population cap policy pointing out that the HUBZone program is a job creating program which directly impacts local communities providing employment opportunities to those in economically stressed areas.
SSI is a service disabled veteran owned small business and certified HUBZone small business that provides professional information technology services to U.S. Federal agency customers. More information about SSI and its Career Resource Center is available at its corporate web site: www.ssihq.net
SSI Provides Testimony to U.S. House Committee on Small Business
Washington, DC – September 20, 2016
Storage Strategies, Inc. (SSI) recently attended and provided testimony to a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Hearing on the issue of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) Program. The Committee heard prepared testimony from SBA’s Associate Administrator, Mr. John Shoraka, responsible for management of the HUBZone Program and Mr. William Shear, of the Government Accountability Office. GAO’s Shear testified regarding his organization’s most recent review of the SBA’s oversight of the program. Shear acknowledged the program has had made improvements recently correcting previously identified weaknesses with application processing timeliness and oversight but that improvement was still needed in the automated processes for communicating with Small Businesses and the re-certification process. SBA’s Shoraka testified regarding the agency’s increased efforts to advocate for the program and educate Government procurement workforce and local municipalities regarding the program’s benefits for local communities. Most notably, Shoraka pointed out a study and resulting policy decision to lift the 20 percent population cap on qualified census tracts in any metropolitan statistical area. Shoraka emphasized the agency’s commitment to remove unnecessary burdens placed on small businesses that have no merit. The SBA’s 20 percent cap decision allows the program to positively impact over 2,000 census tracts across the nation. The Committee’s members focused much of their attention on whether the SBA’s had the authority to remove the 20 percent cap. Other issues of concern for Members included SBA’s ability to identify and limit fraudulent participation in the program, improvement of SBA’s HUBZone Map functionality, and visibility into the program’s impact in communities.
To qualify for the SBA’s HUBZone program a small business must demonstrate U.S. ownership and control, establish a principal office in a HUBZone, and maintain an employee population of least 35 percent HUBZone residents. HUBZones are designated by the SBA based on data collected in the ten year U.S. census and the Department of Commerce’s American Community Survey. Census tracts qualify for the program if they have a poverty rate of at least 25 percent; or if 50 percent or more of its householders have incomes below 60 percent of the area median household income.
Steve Mackie, President of SSI, a Manassas Park based HUBZone small business, provided testimony to the Committee on their history with the program and impact on the local community. SSI has provided over 20 jobs for local HUBZone residents to staff a Career Resource Center (CRC) providing free IT skill coaching and job search assistance to local residents. Local residents are hired, trained and certified as Microsoft Office Specialists and then employed as CRC Customer Service Representatives. SSI partners with the local Manassas Park High School to register students hired into the school’s work-study program helping them to earn credit toward graduation. Mackie made an appeal for the Committee to extend the current three-year grace period after a HUBZone loses its qualified status. Mackie pointed out businesses need time to realize a return on the significant investments made when moving into a HUBZone and to gracefully transition its workforce. Mackie lauded the SBA’s decision to lift the 20 percent population cap policy pointing out that the HUBZone program is a job creating program which directly impacts local communities providing employment opportunities to those in economically stressed areas.
SSI is a service disabled veteran owned small business and certified HUBZone small business that provides professional information technology services to U.S. Federal agency customers. More information about SSI and its Career Resource Center is available at its corporate web site: www.ssihq.net
News Archive
September 6, 2016 - SSI Adopts a U.S. Soldier
January 14, 2016 - SSI Awarded Prime Contract by Defense Logistics Agency
November 11, 2015 - SSI Helps Budding Entrepreneurs in Macedonia
October 5, 2015 - SSI Hosts Red Cross Blood Drive Novant Health Free Mammogram Screening
January 8, 2015 - SSI Accounting System Receives DoD Approval
September 25, 2014 - SSI Celebrates Grand Opening in Manassas Park HUBZone
February 21, 2014 - SSI Opens Office in Manassas Park
November 19, 2013 - SSI Awarded a Navy SeaPort-e prime contract
October 14, 2013 - SSI Awarded a Five-Year Contract Extension by the General Services Administration (GSA)
July 22, 2013 - SSI Awarded Follow-on Storage Management Contract by DLA Philadelphia
February 15, 2013 - Springfield Based SSI Announces Another Banner Growth Year
May 14, 2011 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by Department of Veterans Affairs
February 15, 2011 - SSI Receives Grade of Exceptional from General Services Administration
January 28, 2011 - Springfield Based SSI Announces Record Growth Year
July 20, 2010 - Springfield Based SSI Receives Prestigious Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award
February 9, 2010 - Storage Strategies, Inc. Re-Brands as SSI
August 24, 2009 - SSI announced it is teamed with Wyle, Inc.
August 10, 2009 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by DLA Contracting Services Office Philadelphia
March 5, 2009 - SSI quoted in FCW, “New tech trends force government to rethink storage strategies"
February 24, 2009 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
January 23, 2009 - SSI Joins Technology Leaders Calling on Congress
October 10, 2008 - SSI Awarded a Five-Year Contract by the United States General Services Administration (GSA)
July 11, 2008 - New Virginia Technology Firm Excels in Dun and Bradstreet Performance Evaluations
January 8, 2008 - SSI Awarded Contract by Defense Logistics Agency to Support Data Center in Philadelphia, PA
November 9, 2007 - SSI Awarded Subcontract by CACI to Support U.S. Navy Enterprise Maintenance Automated Information System Data Center
January 14, 2016 - SSI Awarded Prime Contract by Defense Logistics Agency
November 11, 2015 - SSI Helps Budding Entrepreneurs in Macedonia
October 5, 2015 - SSI Hosts Red Cross Blood Drive Novant Health Free Mammogram Screening
January 8, 2015 - SSI Accounting System Receives DoD Approval
September 25, 2014 - SSI Celebrates Grand Opening in Manassas Park HUBZone
February 21, 2014 - SSI Opens Office in Manassas Park
November 19, 2013 - SSI Awarded a Navy SeaPort-e prime contract
October 14, 2013 - SSI Awarded a Five-Year Contract Extension by the General Services Administration (GSA)
July 22, 2013 - SSI Awarded Follow-on Storage Management Contract by DLA Philadelphia
February 15, 2013 - Springfield Based SSI Announces Another Banner Growth Year
May 14, 2011 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by Department of Veterans Affairs
February 15, 2011 - SSI Receives Grade of Exceptional from General Services Administration
January 28, 2011 - Springfield Based SSI Announces Record Growth Year
July 20, 2010 - Springfield Based SSI Receives Prestigious Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award
February 9, 2010 - Storage Strategies, Inc. Re-Brands as SSI
August 24, 2009 - SSI announced it is teamed with Wyle, Inc.
August 10, 2009 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by DLA Contracting Services Office Philadelphia
March 5, 2009 - SSI quoted in FCW, “New tech trends force government to rethink storage strategies"
February 24, 2009 - SSI Awarded GSA Delivery Order by Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
January 23, 2009 - SSI Joins Technology Leaders Calling on Congress
October 10, 2008 - SSI Awarded a Five-Year Contract by the United States General Services Administration (GSA)
July 11, 2008 - New Virginia Technology Firm Excels in Dun and Bradstreet Performance Evaluations
January 8, 2008 - SSI Awarded Contract by Defense Logistics Agency to Support Data Center in Philadelphia, PA
November 9, 2007 - SSI Awarded Subcontract by CACI to Support U.S. Navy Enterprise Maintenance Automated Information System Data Center
