LAS VEGAS – On May 23, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, will visit Las Vegas. Administrator Guzman will participate in roundtable discussions with Rep. Horsford, Rep. Titus, local leaders, and local business owners to discuss increasing equity and access to opportunities to help uplift and support underserved and disadvantaged small businesses.
In recognition of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Administrator Guzman and Rep. Horsford will visit AAPI-owned Sun’s Thai Food, a local family business that benefitted from a PPP loan that helped sustain their operations during the height of the pandemic.
Administrator Guzman will meet with Andrea Vigil, COO of Allegiant Electric, LLC, to congratulate her on her recent award, 2022 Nevada Small Business Person of the Year. With the help of the SBA, Andrea was able to utilize two PPP loans, an EIDL loan, and skills learned through SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative to sustain her business during the pandemic and thrive in a male-dominated industry.
Administrator Guzman and Rep. Dina Titus will meet with Maria Davila, owner of Rika Arepa Express, a local minority-owned small business that received Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
A Women’s Small Business Roundtable discussion will be held with Administrator Guzman and Rep. Dina Titus and local women-owned small businesses to discuss how to increase access to capital and resources to start or grow their businesses.
Media are invited to attend open press events, but must RSVP by 5:00 PM PT on Sunday, May 22, 2022, for credentialing and further information.
Las Vegas Stops
Las Vegas, NV - May 23, 2022
WHAT: Roundtable Discussion with Rep. Steve Horsford, local leaders, and local small business owners
WHEN: 12:10 PM
WHERE: 690 W Lake Mead Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV
WHO: Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Small Business Administration
Rep. Steve Horsford
Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy
State Senator Dina Neal
Elmy Bermejo, SBA Region 9 Administrator
Saul Ramos, SBA NV District Director
Local Small Business Owners
WHAT: AAPI Business Visit with Rep. Steve Horsford
WHEN: 1:40 PM
WHERE: Sun’s Thai Food, 4941 W. Craig Rd, Las Vegas, NV, 89130
WHO: Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Small Business Administration
Rep. Steve Horsford
Elmy Bermejo, SBA Region 9 Administrator
Saul Ramos, SBA NV District Director
Local Small Business Owners
WHAT: Business Visit with Nevada’s Small Business Person of the Year
WHEN: 2:40 PM
WHERE: Allegiant Electric, LLC, 2480 N Decatur Blvd #115, Las Vegas, NV 89108
WHO: Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Small Business Administration
WHAT: Small Business Visit to Rika Arepa Express
WHEN: 3:30 PM
WHERE: 3650 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89121
WHO: Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Small Business Administration
Rep. Dina Titus
Elmy Bermejo, SBA Region 9 Administrator
Saul Ramos, SBA NV District Director
WHAT: Women’s Small Business Roundtable
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: Caesars Palace, 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
WHO: Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Small Business Administration
Rep. Dina Titus
Small Business Leaders
MEDIA RSVP: Please RSVP to Miryam Barajas at miryam.barajas@sba.gov with a reporter’s name and press outlet.
Administrator Guzman will be joined by Elmy Bermejo, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region IX, who oversees the agency’s programs and services in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam.
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.