Extreme weather can cause many worries for the South Florida business owner with the seasonal threat of hurricanes and flooding. Damage caused by frost and freezing temperatures however definitely falls below the radar of risk, which left some business owners in the lurch during the unusual drop in temperatures from January 3 to 16 this year.

Luckily, Palm Beach County and Broward County are included in the Small Business Administration (SBA) cold weather disaster declaration for the January 3 to 16 period. The declaration provides working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of all sizes to meet obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. The deadline for filing an application for such a loan is December 20, 2012.

"This disaster declaration from SBA means that small businesses and those in the agricultural industry impacted by January's cold weather can apply for low interest loans to help recover from losses," said Chuck Lanza, director of the Broward County Emergency Management Division.

Florida's small businesses are receiving a much needed boost in capital, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The report shows that Florida banks have increased their small business lending by $211.1 million since receiving capital through the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF).

The SBLF, which was established as part of the Small Business Jobs Act, encourages community banks to increase their lending to small businesses to help them grow and create new jobs. In total, the U.S. Treasury invested more than $4 billion in 332 institutions, located in over 3,000 communities in 48 states, through the SBLF program. Nationwide, financial institutions participating in the SBLF significantly increased small business lending in the last quarter of 2011 by $1.3 billion, for a total of $4.8 billion over their baseline.

Looking to jumpstart a new career? Explore your options at the 2012 City of Miramar Career Fair on Wednesday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Arts Center, located at 2400 Civic Center Place on Red Road, north of Miramar Parkway. Representatives from major companies will be available to discuss their current employment opportunities and to hire new talent.

In partnership with WorkForce One of Broward, the Miramar Career Fair is intended to provide opportunities for Miramar residents and members of the general public to meet with employers and recruiters from major companies to gather information, ask questions and establish that crucial first contact between applicants and employers.

This year's fair will also introduce a new mini "Success Seminar" series, which will provide attendees with strategies to help them get back on the job market.

In addition, many companies at the career fair will offer an apply online option, so serious job hunters will not need to bring as many resumes, and focus on the fair's networking opportunities.

For more information about the fair, call 954-602-3816.

New manufacturing jobs are silver lining in March's national job report

The recently released March national unemployment report showed that only 120,000 new jobs were created, faltering way below predictions of 200,000 jobs. There is a silver lining however for the American economy, despite the disappointment. The report also revealed job growth in the manufacturing sector – a move that may prove to fuel America's resurgence.

Manufacturing employment rose by 37,000 in March, with 12,000 jobs gained in motor vehicles and parts, 7,000 in machinery, 5,000 in fabricated metals and 3,000 in paper manufacturing. In all, factory employment has risen by 470,000 nationally since its lowest point in January 2010.

Any growth in manufacturing jobs is a positive sign for the U.S. economy. Manufacturing jobs not only directly engage their employees, but also help boost ancillary businesses that develop around factories.