MINNEAPOLIS – On Tuesday, July 2, U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed traveled to Minneapolis, MN to meet with local entrepreneurs in diverse communities, highlight how Minnesota small businesses are benefitting from the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in America, and participate in the White House’s Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Economic Summit.
In the morning, Deputy Administrator Syed toured Primrose School in Edina, MN and met with the owner, Saleem Karmaliani. The school was financed in part through SBA’s 504 Green Energy Program to purchase the building and install solar panels. Deputy Administrator Syed met with the solar panel installer, Blaine, MN Cedar Creek Energy, and its owner Rob Appelhof, who shared how their clean energy installation business line has expanded following record investments in clean energy under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. To date, President Biden has announced more than $860 million in grants, rebates, and other initiatives to accelerate the deployment of clean energy, clean buildings, and clean energy manufacturing in Minnesota alone.
Later, Deputy Administrator Syed participated in WHIAANHPI’s Economic Summit alongside Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Ilhan Omar where he delivered remarks on the record investments in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities under the Biden-Harris administration. In 2023, SBA backed $59 million worth of loans to AANHPI owned small businesses in Minnesota – a 27% increase over the previous year. Deputy Administrator Syed also shared how SBA’s historic reforms to democratize access to capital are yielding results, driving an increase of 47% in loan volume for loans under $150,000, reaching the long tail - the smallest of small businesses.
Deputy Administrator Syed closed out his day by participating in a town hall with the Somali American community in Bloomington, MN moderated by Amran Farah, former President of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers and the co-founder and former president of the Somali American Bar Association. During the townhall, Deputy Administrator Syed offered to collaborate more closely with the community on ways SBA can better serve them. He also reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to ensuring underserved communities and regions have access to opportunity, including SBA’s wealth of lending, government contracting, training, and innovation grant programs.
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.