Special Report

Focus On Entrepreneurs, August 2011

• The EB-5 Program: Create American Jobs, Get a Green Card

  The visa program has pulled in $1.5 billion and created 31,000 jobs. Now U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is pushing to streamline it

• To Boost the Economy, Help the Self-Employed

  Freelancers, contractors, and consultants are essential to the economy. It’s time to repeal outdated regulations that hold them back

• Roaste.com: A Website for Coffee Cognoscenti

  The three-year-old online marketplace is selling more java from independent roasters by appealing to opinionated drinkers

• How Housing Dealt a Double Blow to Small Business

  The slump isn't just hurting business; it's also making it hard for contractors, suppliers, and others to borrow against their homes

• Vanishing Health Benefits

  In 2009, the share of small businesses offering coverage dropped in 45 states, as premiums nationwide rose 82 percent over 2000

• America's Most Promising Startups

  Profiles of new companies that embody the creativity and resilience common among today's entrepreneurs