Small Business Administration to Hold Traverse City Press Conference (Friday 11/18)

SBA Official and Local Small Businesses Will Highlight SBA Assistance

 DETROIT – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Michigan District Office will host a press conference on November 18, 2011 at the Northwest Michigan College Aero Park Campus, Parsons-Stulen Building, 2600 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686 to highlight how SBA is helping small businesses succeed.  SBA Midwest Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz, who oversees the delivery of SBA’s programs in six states, will discuss how SBA is helping small businesses prosper.

Sue Burns, Owner of Baa Baa Zuzu in Lake Leelanau received numerous SBA guaranteed loans from participating SBA lenders.  Susan Ball, owner of Zany Kitchen in Cheboygan launched her business with an SBA microloan from Northern Initiatives. Both businesses received consulting services through various SBA funded resource partners.  They will speak about how SBA helped them launch and grow their businesses.

SBA’s loan guaranty program is helping small businesses grow and create jobs both throughout the country and in Northwest Michigan.  The Michigan District Office led all SBA districts in the number of guaranteed loans made through SBA’s 7(a) loan program in fiscal 2011, guaranteeing 2,063 loans for a total of $689 million.  This is a 47% increase in volume and an 80% increase in total dollars.

WHO:  Speakers

• Chris Wendel, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center Northwest Region
• Susan Ball, Owner of Zany Kitchen, Cheboygan
• Sue Burns, Co-Owners of Baa Baa Zuzu, Lake Leelanau
• Lori Meeder, Northern Initiatives
• Sandy Bloem, Economic Development Foundation
• Scott Joseph, Huntington Bank
• Marianne Markowitz, SBA Midwest Regional Administrator

WHAT:   An SBA press conference will highlight how small businesses are benefitting from the SBA and its partner programs.  Join us and learn how the SBA is helping companies like Baa Baa Zuzu and Zany Kitchen to create jobs and contribute to the state and national economy.

WHEN:            Friday, November 18, 2011 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

                        

WHERE:         Northwest Michigan College Aero Park Campus – Parsons-Stulen Building

                        2600 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686

NOTE:     SBA Midwest Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz will be available for media interviews from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.  Please RSVP to Nancy Grose (313) 226-6075 x.234 or nancy.grose@sba.gov.  

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