MIAMI, FL – On Monday, March 21, 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 Miami area to highlight the importance of government contracting for entrepreneurs and to hear from local small business owners about the pandemic challenges they faced and how they utilized SBA and Biden-Harris Administration recovery programs to overcome them. Administrator Guzman was joined by SBA Associate Administrator for Government Contracting & Business Development, Bibi Hidalgo, SBA Southeast Regional Administrator Allen Thomas, and U.S. Representatives Maria Salazar and Frederica Wilson.
“My thanks to Representatives Maria Salazar and Frederica Wilson for welcoming me to Miami and connecting me with so many members of Florida's vibrant small business community, who shared with me their needs and challenges and their stories of success and resilience,” said Administrator Guzman. “While in Florida, I saw great potential for growth and opportunity for small businesses fueled by $1.2 trillion in investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $18B in infrastructure upgrades for Florida, and the expansion of manufacturing through the President’s Made in America initiative. The SBA is committed to opening the doors of federal procurement so more small businesses can grow and thrive by doing business with the federal government, the world’s largest customer, and help build a better America for us all.”
Administrator Guzman kicked off her trip by holding a roundtable discussion with Rep. Salazar on the campus of Miami Dade College. Small business owners, Resource Partners, and stakeholders from Rep. Salazar’s district participated in the discussion. Administrator Guzman and Rep. Salazar listened to the concerns and successes of local small business owners, and they gained insights from SBA Resource Partners and small business champions and stakeholders. Students from Miami Dade College were also in attendance for this discussion and were able to spend time with the Administrator and the Congresswoman following the roundtable.
Topics of conversation included discussion around the recovery programs that were utilized by constituents in the district as well as how the SBA has made changes to enhance the customer's experience with the Agency. Administrator Guzman and Rep. Salazar conveyed their collaborative commitment to further equity and success for the businesses of South Florida.
“The American Dream thrives when our economy is given the freedom it needs to grow and empowers our small business do what they do best – innovate, create jobs, and provide value to their customers and community,” said Rep. Salazar. “It was an honor to host Administrator Guzman and introduce her to the heart of Florida’s 27th District. Today’s visit solidified a strong relationship between my office and the SBA, and I look forward to working together to ensure Miami small businesses can access the resources they need to thrive.”
Administrator Guzman and Rep. Salazar next visited with Eliesteban Mena, owner, Olds’ Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, located on the famous “Calle Ocho” of Little Havana that is visited by tourists and locals alike searching for the Cuban heartbeat of Miami. Administrator Guzman also visited Sushi Sake Little Havana and met owner Robert “Bobby” Lopez and general manager Miguel Rodriguez.
Following her visit to Little Havana, Administrator Guzman was joined by Rep. Wilson and met with Chris Tucker, CEO, and Jannette “Nadine” Tucker, President, of Aero Marine Interior, Inc. (AMI), and took a tour of the manufacturing business. Aero Marine Interior, Inc. is an FAA Approved Repair Station specializing in Aircraft Interior Repairs. Their services include full Aircraft Interior Overhaul, Refurbishing, Upholstering, and Carpeting. The Tuckers were able to talk about and display how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helped their business to stay afloat throughout the pandemic and they were able to pay and maintain their staff through challenging times.
“Small businesses are a critical component to the success of local economies across Florida and the broader national economy, and it was an honor to welcome SBA Administrator Guzman to my district as we visited with several amazing small business owners and entrepreneurs from the greater Miami area,” said Rep. Wilson. “The global COVID-19 pandemic has presented a number of challenges over the past two years but, thanks to the Biden Administration and historic federal relief funding, we’ve seen small businesses overcome those challenges and thrive. Moving forward, I hope to welcome Administrator Guzman to my district once again so that more of my constituents who own small businesses will have the opportunity to come into the fold and be a part of the conversation.”
Following the tour, Administrator Guzman and Rep. Wilson joined Associate Administrator Bibi Hidalgo, Regional Administrator to the Southeast Region Allen Thomas, North Miami Mayor Anthony F. DeFillipo, and several small business owners and stakeholders for a robust roundtable discussion around the topics of government contracting, equity, resiliency, living wage, and the SBA’s Small Business Digital Alliance.
This visit marks the Administrator’s first official visit to Miami, FL. In her first year in office, Administrator Guzman has visited 26 states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, and over 41 cities.
Photos from the trip are available below.
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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 and Rep. Maria Salazar participate in a roundtable discussion with entrepreneurs, resource partners, lenders, students, and small business stakeholders at Miami Dade College.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, SBA Associate Administrator for Government Contracting & Business Development Bibi Hidalgo, and SBA Southeast Regional Administrator Allen Thomas meet with Mr. Eliesteban Mena, owner, Olds’ Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, Rep. Frederica Wilson, SBA Associate Administrator for Government Contracting & Business Development Bibi Hidalgo, and SBA Southeast Regional Administrator Allen Thomas participate in a roundtable discussion.