When President Obama signed the 2009 Recovery Act, the America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loan came into being to help struggling small businesses. ARC loans are meant to help you pay off your debts on one or more existing small business loans. The SBA says, "The best candidates for ARC loans are small businesses that in the past were profitable but are currently struggling, yet have been making loan payments or are just beginning to miss loan payments due to financial hardship."

The loans are being offered until September 30, 2010, or until the appropriated funds run out -- whichever comes first -- and you can apply for up to $35,000. In addition to not paying interest, you won't have to start making payments for 12 months and there are no SBA fees associated with the loans. Repayment can extend up to five years.

Learn more by visiting the SBA ARC Loan Program Center and reading about the criteria for eligibility.

Photo courtesy of Wadester16 on Wikipedia licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 license

We just learned that "Shark Tank" has extended their casting call and has also opened casting to established businesses that need an injection of capital. Here's what they sent us:

The producers of the new ABC reality series “Shark Tank” are on a nationwide search to discover the next successful -- and possibly wealthy -- entrepreneurs, inventors, businesspersons, dreamers, promoters, creators and innovators.

If you have an existing business that needs a financial injection or feel you have a lucrative business idea but just can't seem to secure the financial backing to get it off the ground, then “Shark Tank” is just the show for you. Casting is looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who can pitch their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services to moguls in hopes of landing investment funds.

If selected, five real-life, tough investors could be willing to part with their own hard-earned cash and give you the funding you need to jumpstart your idea. Apply now for a chance to enter the “Shark Tank" and see if your idea survives.

If you're interested, email Caroline Johnson-Stephens with the following information:

• Name
• Age
• Hometown
• Phone number
• Photo

Remember to tell her you heard about "Shark Tank" on Mom Invented. You can reach Caroline at cstephens@markburnettprod.com, and if you have further questions you can call her at 310.903.5683.

Download the PDF for the casting call

The show is produced by Mark Burnett, and each episode features aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to moguls in hopes of landing investment funds. You can apply now for your chance to enter the "Shark Tank" and see if your idea survives.

If you're interested, email Caroline Johnson-Stephens at carolinecasting@gmail.com with your name, age, hometown, phone number and photo, and let her know that you saw the casting call on Mom Invented. Don't leave anything out -- and include whether you're an inventor, entrepreneur or both in the subject line of your email.

• There are 10.1 million firms owned by women in the U.S., employing 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in revenues
• Women own 20% of all firms with revenues exceeding $1 million

The study, underwritten by American Express OPEN and The Jana Matthews Group, also included quantitative research - including common personality traits that may contribute to a woman business owner's success. It's very interesting - to learn more, click here.

You've just imagined SBTV.com.

Founded in 2000, SBTV.com is the first and only video news and information destination site for America's small business market. Packed with expertly produced content from professional journalists and industry experts, the site offers everything from technical information on how to run your business to inspirational stories from successful entrepreneurs across the U.S.

Best of all? It's available via your computer at no charge -- perfect for your busy life and your budget.

The network was founded by Susan Wilson Solovic, a former news anchor, corporate VP and Saint Louis University Law School graduate. She is the author of multiple books, including The Girls' Guide to Power and Success and the soon to be released Girls' Guide to Building a Million $ Business. She has served on the National Women's Business Council, which counsels the President, Congress and the SBA on issues impacting women business owners.

"At SBTV.com, our goal is to provide exclusive programming from trusted small business experts to help our viewers turn their business dreams into reality," explains Solovic.

She cites programming from E-Myth Theory author Michael Gerber as one example. His SBTV.com program, "In the Dreaming Room," helps entrepreneurs engage in "intentional dreaming" to unleash the powers within.

Susan's philosophy is that being an entrepreneur is a way of living -- not just a way of making a living.

"There has never been a better time to be a woman business owner," Solovic observed. "Women are finding opportunities to create businesses that fit the nuances of their lives and at the same time build economic independence. They are building enterprises that are changing the way the world does business -- for the better."