Biz bits

Flyin' Cowboy owners plan to expand menu

The Famous Dave's restaurant at 2821 Washington Road changed its name to Flyin' Cowboy.

Owners Sonny Lyons and David Knight, of Lyon Management, opened a Flyin' Cowboy restaurant earlier this year in Douglas, Ga., and decided to end their franchise agreement with Famous Dave's in Augusta, according to assistant general manager Fred Martin.

Owners made the change "to offer a wider variety of food," Mr. Martin said.

Small Business Forum to map opportunities

A Small Business Forum designed to offer small companies more opportunities at Savannah River Site will be held at the Augusta Marriott Hotel from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2.

The event is an effort to ensure small businesses have the opportunity to secure contracts related to supporting American Reinvestment and Recovery Act projects at the U.S. Energy Department facility.

SRS was earmarked to receive $1.6 billion in Recovery Act projects to be completed by September 2011.

The event will include a panel discussion with local small-business owners who have been successful in landing Recovery Act contracts.

"Matchmaking Sessions" will enable small-business representatives to meet with procurement buyers to discuss their products and services with the buyers. An overview of upcoming procurements set aside for small businesses will also be reviewed.

Small businesses wishing to attend the forum must register early at www.srs.gov/recovery/smallbiz.

House panel endorses rules for derivatives

WASHINGTON --- A House committee voted Thursday to regulate for the first time privately traded derivatives, the kind of exotic financial instruments that helped bring down Lehman Brothers and nearly toppled American International Group.

The 43-26 vote by the House Financial Services Committee was a first major step for President Obama's plans to overhaul federal regulations governing the nation's financial institutions.

The mostly party line vote showed that Democrats were prepared to band together to override objections by Republicans and the financial lobby and demand increased oversight of Wall Street.

No Democrat on the panel opposed the measure. One Republican, North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones, sided with them to approve it.