COLUMBUS, OH – On Thursday, April 7, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, visited the Columbus, Ohio area to visit local small businesses in honor of Second Chance Month. She also participated in a local Small Business Digital Alliance event with Google at the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI).
“My thanks to Business Forward, Google, and the small business owners and advocates who joined us for the SBA’s first in-person Small Business Digital Alliance seminar at the Economic and Community Development Institute last week,” said Administrator Guzman. “The small businesses and local ecosystem providers who joined us prior in a roundtable shared great insights on how technology and e-commerce have created more growth opportunities and helped outline a path forward for SBA and its great partners in its Small Business Digital Alliance to address barriers to ensure more entrepreneurs can achieve digital success. The bottom line is that there is great potential for growth as more businesses in Ohio and across the nation move online to capture new clients and markets, and I could not be more excited to share our growing library of free digital tools and resources as we continue to build momentum in America’s historic recovery and growing entrepreneurial renaissance. The SBA is committed to opening digital doors so more small businesses can operate and grow safely online and help build a better America for us all.”
As part of her visit, Administrator Guzman participated in a roundtable with local business owners and technical assistance providers, Business Forward, Inc., Grow with Google, and the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), and they discussed ways to help small businesses adopt technology and accelerate their online and social media strategies to power their e-commerce businesses and better engage with their customers.
"It was an honor to join Administrator Guzman for the first regional event in Ohio as part of the Small Business Digital Alliance," said Lisa Gevelber, Founder of Grow with Google. "We are excited to provide even more small businesses with Grow with Google training and resources to help them unlock growth."
"We know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Liz Fairchild, Executive Director of the Small Business Digital Alliance and Business Forward! “They create two-thirds of new jobs. Yesterday, we heard first-hand the challenges they experienced in the past two years alone. As the economy recovers, Columbus leaders are collaborating with their community partners — like ECDI, Grow with Google, and local organizations — to create more equitable opportunities for all entrepreneurs. By providing critical digital tools and training, we can help small businesses unlock opportunities for growth.”
In the morning, Administrator Guzman kicked off her trip with a lunch stop at Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus. She visited with Joe DeLoss, President and CEO, Hot Chicken Takeover, and his key employees to learn more about this popular Ohio restaurant that prides itself on being a fair-chance employer and achieving strong success with a business model grounded in a workforce of formerly incarcerated, justice system impacted people.
The visit took place during Second Chance Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of criminal convictions and unlock second-chance opportunities for people who have completed their sentences so they can contribute to their communities. This visit allowed Administrator Guzman the opportunity to highlight the SBA’s recently announced reforms to its Community Advantage Pilot Program, an initiative that seeks small-dollar loans of $250,000 or less to historically underserved communities, including removing restrictions that can keep individuals with criminal backgrounds from accessing funding to start and grow a business.
Administrator Guzman was also able to hear first-hand from owner Joe DeLoss how he was able to keep his staff employed and his business running smoothly throughout the pandemic due to the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs.
Following the Digital Alliance event, Administrator Guzman made a final stop to visit with Jeni Britton at Jeni’s Ice Cream, a local, well-known small business famous for its ice cream. Jeni Britton, Owner of Jeni’s Ice Cream, has utilized SBA’s programs and services over the years to build on her success, and she was also highlighted by Administrator Guzman during 2022 Women’s History Month.
This visit marks the Administrator’s first official visit to Columbus, Ohio. In her first year in office, Administrator Guzman has visited 27 states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, and over 44 cities.
Photos from the trip are available below.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman meets with members of the local Small Business Digital Alliance and Google at the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) in Columbus, Ohio.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman meets with business owner Joe DeLoss and staff at local Columbus restaurant, Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, Ohio.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman samples ice cream with local small business owner Jeni Britton of Jeni's Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio.