More of Maura in 2024
I recently completed a 15-month Fellowship, sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), where I served as a key member of the newly created Ecosystem Development Division within the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII). In this role, I had the unique opportunity to oversee the redesign and implementation of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC), a national initiative aimed at building innovation ecosystems by supporting Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). The GAFC aligns with the broader goals of the Biden administration’s place-based industrial policy, part of the economic strategy known as Bidenomics, which seeks to target federal investments toward fostering inclusive economic development in underserved regions across the U.S.
Throughout the fellowship, I led the transformation of the GAFC into a two-stage competition, distributing $7 million in funding to 35 ESOs. My work included designing the program’s logic model, setting metrics for measuring success, conducting reviews of over 350 Stage One applications, and managing the complex process of selecting winners. This effort was instrumental in increasing engagement with the SBA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, specifically targeting underrepresented groups such as women and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI).
In addition to program management, I co-chaired the creation of a Community of Practice for ecosystem builders across federal agencies, fostering collaboration aimed at strengthening innovation networks nationwide. I also authored several critical documents, including a white paper on GAFC’s role in advancing place-based economic development and a comprehensive “How to GAFC” handbook to ensure the sustainability of the program. My participation in national conferences and policy discussions allowed me to advocate for the critical role of inclusion and equity in federal science and economic policy, ensuring that federal resources reach traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs and regions.
The fellowship allowed me to gain first-hand experience in policy implementation at the federal level, particularly as it relates to modern industrial policy under the Biden administration’s Bidenomics framework. The focus of GAFC—driving inclusive innovation through targeted federal funding—directly informs my dissertation research, which investigates the efficacy of place-based industrial strategies in addressing the disparities in access to federal funding for minority and women entrepreneurs. My dissertation uses GAFC as a case study to explore whether these place-based economic development policies are achieving their intended outcomes and how they align with broader federal goals of promoting equitable growth.
This work, situated at the intersection of research, policy, and economic development, has provided me with the empirical foundation to analyze the successes and challenges of modern R&D industrial policies. My role in shaping the GAFC, combined with my academic focus on the barriers to economic participation, uniquely positions me to contribute to discussions on how federal policies can better serve underrepresented communities and stimulate inclusive growth in the U.S. innovation ecosystem.
Celebrating 2023!
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
The SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit connects organizations across sectors to learn from one another as we work together to build a thriving national innovation ecosystem.
Fall TechConnect
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
Thanks to everyone who came out for our amazing Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) Meeting at the SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference. It was so great to see so many folks in person!
Federation of American Scientists
2023 SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit
Federation of American Scientists
Check out my new gig as the Impact and Innovation Fellow within the Small Business Administration where I'm focusing on encouraging the involvement of underserved communities in SBA’s innovation ecosystem.
Maura in the News 2021
Temple’s Small Business Development Center can help your biz cross the digital divide
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
Temple’s Small Business Development Center can help your biz cross the digital divide
Temple University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Maura Shenker wants to help small business owners make strides in the digital space. Shenker believes that providing small business owners with access to digital education resources can give them an advantage and help them survive.
How small businesses can survive another COVID-19 lockdown.
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
Temple’s Small Business Development Center can help your biz cross the digital divide
Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center, believes that another lockdown is unlikely. “I don’t think we’ll see shutdowns in the Philadelphia region, given the high percentage of vaccinations and new mandatory vaccine and testing requirements going into effect,” she said. Read MORE
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
Maura Shenker, who directs the Small Business Development Center at Temple University, hopes that the recently announced changes to PPP will make it more useful to more self-employed workers from such lesser-paid fields with diverse workforces. Read MORE
Coatesville is home to a $5M start-up accelerator in former Lukens Steel offices
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
'Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
Maura Shenker, who directs Temple University’s Small Business Development Center at 15th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia, said the tax credit can be a powerful way for firms to raise money. Her center operates in the BioLaunch611 Keystone Innovation Zone and can offer start-ups a business address in the KIZ. Read MORE
It may be a good to time to launch a home-based business in Philly...
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
“Those who have the resources to be online and a high-speed internet connection as well as some digital literacy were able to take advantage,” said Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center. Read MORE
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
Small biz owners face stark choices: pivoting, holding out, or closing if no more government aid com
Survival Tips:
Cut costs whenever possible and run lean, advises Maura Shenker, director of Temple's Small Business Development Center.
Don't go deeper into debt!
Maura in the News 2020
Fox Community Rallies to Support SBDC, Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
Emergency coronavirus loan not approved yet? SBA will now advance $10,000 to small businesses
It’s the morning of Sunday, March 15. For Maura Shenker and her colleagues at Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), it’s the end of what’s been… a week. Read MORE
Emergency coronavirus loan not approved yet? SBA will now advance $10,000 to small businesses
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
Emergency coronavirus loan not approved yet? SBA will now advance $10,000 to small businesses
“But, the good news is that the new application is simpler and you don’t lose your place in line," said Maura Shenker, director of the Small Business Development Center at Temple, which hosts online seminars about how to apply for loans. "If they had already submitted an application with the old website, they’re good to go,” Read MORE
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
"Each state must apply for the funding and will distribute it to small businesses," said Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Temple’s SBDC — which is funded by Temple, Read MORE
How do I reopen my small business after COVID-19?
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
Help emerging for Philly-area small businesses facing financial disaster from coronavirus shutdowns
If you had to lay off or furlough workers it’s crucial that you understand the law and keep careful records, says Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center. If you have a PPP loan, everything needs to be documented carefully as well in order to meet loan forgiveness, says Shenker. READ MORE
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
Experts say other businesses will have to find similar ways to be innovative to stay afloat.
“Restaurants are about real estate and covers and fitting as many people as possible. People are not going to be comfortable with that,” said Maura Shenker with Temple University’s Small Business Development Center.
Wake Up with WURD Small Business Stimulus Segment
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
‘It’s The Unknown’: Restaurants Working To Figure Out How They Will Attract Dine-In Customers
A series of conversations where we will pair small Black-owned businesses with experts who can help them navigate this serious crisis. We want to provide real answers to their real problems.
Participants: Jim Burnett, Executive Director of WPFSI Maura Shenker, Director, Temple Small Business Development Center, and James Spencer Williams, Nano Virus Kill
Inner City Capital Connections
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
PA to give $225 million in grants to Small Businesses
Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a tuition-free executive leadership training program designed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to help business owners in under-resourced communities build capacity for sustainable growth in revenue, profitability, and employment.
I was thrilled to be the moderator for their resource panel in Philadelphia.
PA to give $225 million in grants to Small Businesses
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
PA to give $225 million in grants to Small Businesses
The state Department of Community and Economic Development will pass the money first to community-development lenders, nonprofits that help small-business owners. These lenders will then administer the grants.
“It’s a huge deal,” said Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center. “I think it’s goin
The state Department of Community and Economic Development will pass the money first to community-development lenders, nonprofits that help small-business owners. These lenders will then administer the grants.
“It’s a huge deal,” said Maura Shenker, director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center. “I think it’s going to be a combination grant and loan with technical assistance, which is ideal.” READ MORE
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
The new centers — called the Center for Hospitality Resilience and the Center for Digital Transformation — are two of six new “Centers of Excellence” that were established recently across the state with funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. The services at both centers are free to access, and busi
The new centers — called the Center for Hospitality Resilience and the Center for Digital Transformation — are two of six new “Centers of Excellence” that were established recently across the state with funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. The services at both centers are free to access, and business owners can request to work with them through the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers website. READ MORE
Grab New Pa. grant targets minority business owners hurt by coronavirus shutdowninterest
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
Temple’s SBDC launches two new resource centers to help small businesses thrive past the pandemic
Many minority small business owners don’t have easy access to capital, and some struggle to stay compliant with taxes, insurance and licenses, said Maura Shenker, director of the Small Business Development Center at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
“Philadelphia, in particular, runs a very large informal or gray economy, wh
Many minority small business owners don’t have easy access to capital, and some struggle to stay compliant with taxes, insurance and licenses, said Maura Shenker, director of the Small Business Development Center at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
“Philadelphia, in particular, runs a very large informal or gray economy, where people may not have a business license or may be working under the table,” Shenker said. “So [that creates] a lot of issues.” READ MO
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
It’s impossible to get a definitive count of local businesses that shut down during the pandemic.
And any count of failed businesses will likely miss those operated solely by owners. Consultants, independent contractors, and “solopreneurs” — who run shops by themselves — are often not included as small businesses since they don’t have
It’s impossible to get a definitive count of local businesses that shut down during the pandemic.
And any count of failed businesses will likely miss those operated solely by owners. Consultants, independent contractors, and “solopreneurs” — who run shops by themselves — are often not included as small businesses since they don’t have employees, said Maura Shenker, director of Temple’s Small Business Development Center.
Unemployment concerns rise in Atlantic City for casino workers
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
COVID-19 has shut hundreds of the Philly-area’s small businesses, Yelp says. And that’s just for starters.
Maura Shenker, director of small business development at Temple University says the 24 percent unemployment number worries her in the long term.
She mentions that even when people get their jobs back, the majority of them will be in debt. So before the economy is stimulated, people will be focusing on catching up on bills before goi
Maura Shenker, director of small business development at Temple University says the 24 percent unemployment number worries her in the long term.
She mentions that even when people get their jobs back, the majority of them will be in debt. So before the economy is stimulated, people will be focusing on catching up on bills before going on vacation or spending money for a fun night out at a casino. WATCH MORE