Administrator Guzman and White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu met with SBA’s Council on Underserved Communities, and joined Rep. Shri Thanedar, Mayor Mike Duggan, and State Chief Infrastructure Coordinator Zach Kolodi to celebrate President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda and the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project
DETROIT – On Friday, June 9, 2023, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu travelled to Detroit to meet with local entrepreneurs and highlight President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its impact on job creation, opportunities for small business owners, and community infrastructure improvements.
Administrator Guzman kicked off the day with a tour of TechTown Detroit, an entrepreneurship hub focused on the revitalization of Detroit. Afterward, she and White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu participated in the SBA’s Council on Underserved Communities board meeting, an organization focused on communities and populations that traditionally have faced barriers in accessing credit, capital, and the other tools they need to start and grow businesses. In the meeting, Administrator Guzman discussed capital access and ways the SBA supports entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
Administrator Guzman and White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu joined Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mayor Mike Duggan, State Chief Infrastructure Coordinator Zach Kolodin, and small business owner Tarolyn Buckles for a press conference on the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project, which will bring together previously separated communities, improve accessibility through the creation of new bike lanes, open up 25 acres of land to new development, and create an estimated 4,500 new jobs.
Infrastructure developments in the Detroit community have been made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has resulted in a historic $5.7 billion in funding for 319 infrastructure projects throughout Michigan. That includes $4.7 billion for transportation projects, revitalizing Michigan’s roads and bridges, making them safer as people travel to work and school, and as businesses ship supplies and products across the globe.
Administrator Guzman then traveled to Stellantis, a group of 14 iconic automotive brands, where she learned about their Dare Forward 2030 strategy, which aims to achieve carbon net zero by 2038. She toured the Stellantis Design Dome, led by Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles. While meeting with Stellantis executives, Administrator Guzman also discussed how the SBA is working to help small businesses that specialize in developing innovative green technology.
For follow-up interview requests for Administrator Guzman, please contact Mila Myles at mila.myles@sba.gov.
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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, 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.