The Tar Heel Newsletter
December 2021

Happy Holidays! 

From the North Carolina District Office

Biden-Harris Administration Appoints Allen M. Thomas as SBA Region IV Administrator   Allen Thomas of Greenville, North Carolina has been sworn in as Region IV (4) Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. He has oversight of the federal Agency for nine district offices located across eight states; Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The SBA Southeast Region guaranteed over $8 billion in small business loans in fiscal year 2021, counseled over 400,000 entrepreneurs, and awarded nearly $18 billion in federal contracts to small business to help drive their success. “I am tremendously honored to serve the Biden-Harris Administration, under Administrator Guzman’s leadership, as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration,” says Regional Administrator Allen Thomas.  “Small businesses have faced unimaginable challenges over these past few years, and I am committed to continue to help bring recovery relief and growth tools to the entrepreneurs located across all of the Southeastern United States so they can continue on the path of a successful entrepreneurial journey.”

SBA Administrator Announces Plans to Elevate the Office of Women’s Business Ownership

The proposed change reflects the importance of women entrepreneurs held by the Biden-Harris Administration and SBA.

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced that the SBA intends to elevate its Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) to directly report to the Office of the Administrator. Under Administrator Guzman, the SBA has expanded the number of Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) to a record 140 locations nationwide. These WBCs offer a network of extensive on-the-ground resources that include free to low-cost counseling, training, business development technical assistance and are dedicated to assisting women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and expand their enterprises.

This announcement comes after the release of the first-ever National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality commissioned by the White House outlining objectives and priorities for obtaining equity for women. 

Women entrepreneurs play a key role in our society and economy. Yet, they remain underrepresented in a myriad of key factors, including access to capital, contracts, and connections. Led by OWBO, the SBA will lead the way in assisting women-owned businesses in leveraging government resources – including recently announced opportunities through an equitable federal procurement strategy, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Build Back Better Act – to level the playing field.

To learn more: Click Here

To find a Women’s Business Center in your area: Click Here 

Administrator Guzman Announces Members of the Council on Underserved Communities

 Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the leaders who will serve on the reconvened Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) authorized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), including its appointed Chair, John W. Rogers Jr., Chairman, and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, LLC.

The CUC will work to further the equity priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration by making programmatic and policy recommendations to Administrator Guzman and the SBA to increase access and opportunity across SBA’s programs and initiatives to help level the playing field for all of America’s entrepreneurs.

Learn more

Small businesses power America’s economy. Today, there are over 32.5 million small businesses in the United States, and they need our help more than ever. Support small businesses in your community and shop small throughout the holiday season.

7(j) Management and Technical Training

SBA has partnered with Stover & Associates Inc, to provide on-line government contracting training. From your computer, you’ll link to an instructor in a live, real-time, interactive learning experience. You’ll become part of a virtual classroom where you can ask questions, seek guidance and participate in class discussions and interactive exercises.

Click Here To Register

SBA has partnered with The Catalyst to provide workshops for the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program. All classes are 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Central unless noted otherwise.  

To register for future events: Programs : The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship

SBA Account Login and Registration Portals

Wondering how to access your SBA account login for loans, grants, or contracting?  This webpage has details of how to do that for your Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, 7a and 504 loans, Shuttered Venues Operators Grant, and more.

It can help existing borrowers and contractors monitor their loan status, find the pages to set up and manage online payments, and more.  

Click Here

Helpful Links

Disaster (EIDL loans or advances/grants): DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or (833) 853-5638.

SBA PPP Webpage

To report waste, fraud, or abuse: OIG hotline (800) 767-0385 or OIGHotline@sba.gov

Follow us on Twitter! @SBA_NC

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. 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.