Press release

Readout of SBA Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed’s Visit to Salt Lake City

Deputy Administrator Syed Meets with SBA Lenders, Community Leaders, and University Students and Faculty

SALT LAKE CITY  On April 16-17, U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed, traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah for engagements with local entrepreneurs, small business exporters, interfaith community leaders, and university students and faculty. 

On Tuesday, April 16, Deputy Administrator Syed hosted a roundtable discussion with SBA lenders to discuss the agency’s work to democratize access to capital and solicit feedback on how the agency can continue to build upon SBA’s monumental efforts to streamline processes. Deputy Administrator Syed then participated in a fireside chat, moderated by Utah Black Chamber of Commerce founder James Jackson, on the need to grow the number of Black-owned firms in Utah and get capital into the hands of traditionally underserved entrepreneurs.

In the afternoon, at a luncheon hosted by the World Trade Center – Utah, Deputy Administrator Syed highlighted the impact of SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants in maintaining America’s global competitiveness. The Deputy Administrator then facilitated another roundtable discussion with Utah government representatives and small business stakeholders, where participants discussed how federal, state, and local partners can collaborate to look beyond traditional networks to reach the new generation of entrepreneurs in Utah which have emerged since the pandemic. Deputy Administrator Syed closed out his day at a meeting with members of the Utah Muslim Civic League, where he focused on the SBA’s efforts to increase access to loans and resources for underserved communities, including Muslim small business owners.

On Wednesday, April 17, Deputy Administrator Syed visited Westminster University for meetings with university leaders, faculty, and students from across the Wasatch Front. While on campus, Deputy Administrator Syed also participated in a fireside chat on global competitiveness and entrepreneurship in the age of Artificial Intelligence. During the discussion, the Deputy Administrator discussed President Biden’s Executive Order on AI and the SBA’s use of new technology to improve customer service and program delivery for small businesses.

For follow-up interview requests for Deputy Administrator Syed, please contact Teddy Lake at theodora.lake@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, 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.

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