 | | Cassius Butts SBA Regional Administrator Region IV |
The SBA and the AARP are working together to make sure that every aged 50 plus aspiring or existing small business owner has all of the small business resources necessary to succeed right at their fingertips. National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day events are happening in every state across the nation on Tuesday, October 2nd. To find the nearest event that can assist you in starting or growing your business on October 2nd, please visit www.sba.gov/mentorday. SBA Administrator Karen Mills will be kicking off this great day in Jacksonville, Florida and I will be partipicating in the Atlanta, Georgia Entrepreneur Mentor Day. We look forward to seeing you at these events.  SBA Region IV Employee To Highlight This MonthJohn McClure III SBA Lender Relations Specialist SBA Kentucky District Office | |  |
John McClure, III has been part of the Kentucky District Office team since December 2010. He is a Lender Relations Specialist for the district and actively trains lenders in SBA financing procedures, recruits new SBA lenders and has been able to increase SBA participation among dormant or low-use lenders across the state. John has been instrumental in developing specialized training materials for various audiences in the lending community. Prior to joining SBA, John served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years as a Financial Services Specialist, an Avionics Systems Technician and Supervisor, and as Assistant Specialist Flight Chief and Recruiter. After his Air Force service, John was a Branch Manager and Business Relations Manager for JP Morgan Chase Bank. John also serves as the Veterans Representative for the Kentucky District Office.
What is Happening In Your Area??  | | Alabama District Office Thomas Todt, District Director
SBA Alabama District Lead Lender Relations Specialist L.D. Ralph spoke at the 2012 Business Summit at the Harbert Center in Birmingham September 14. The event, put on by the Birmingham Business Journal, allowed local executives and decision makers to gain insights and solutions for their businesses through networking opportunities, exhibition booths, strategy sessions, panel discussions. Mr. Ralph spoke about "Getting a Yes from Your Lender: Tips for Getting Financing for Your Business." For highlights from the conference or further information on these topics, please contact the Alabama District Office. www.sba.gov/al |
 | | North Florida District Office Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director
The North Florida District Office participated in the first annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (FLAGGL) conference in Orlando, FL September 12-14. The SBA recently entered into a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with FLAGGL. The partnership is intended to strengthen the lines of communication between SBA and its lenders. FLAGGL was created to provide training and networking opportunities to lenders who originate and service SBA-backed loans.
Veronica Wallace, SBA Lead Lender Relations Specialist provided updates to conference participants on district lending volume and statistics. Other SBA speakers included Cassius Butts, Region IV Administrator, Mary Hernandez, Regional Manager (Exports), and Patrick Kelley, Senior Advisor to the Associate Administrator. Topics discussed at the training revolved around 7a and 504 loans, as well as industry specific topics such as eligibility and appraisals. The North Florida District and its lenders remain committed to helping small businesses succeed. |
 | | South Florida District Office Francisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director
The South Florida District Office will sign its last Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) of the fiscal year with the City of Palm Bay, FL on September 25th. This 15th SAM caps off a successful year of strategic partnerships throughout the 24-county district. District Director Francisco "Pancho" A. Marrero appreciates the value and necessity of SBA partnerships with local municipalities and organizations in meeting the needs of South Florida's entrepreneurs. "We are doing everything we can to bring directly to our small businesses the help and vital resources SBA has to offer and that they need to create jobs as they start, grow, and succeed in business. SAMs provide meaningful partnerships and broader access to our customers," he said. For example, on October 4th, the District will moderate and participate on an export financing panel during the 9th Annual International Trade Expo sponsored by the Lauderhill Regional Chamber: a SAM partner. |
 | | Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director
On September 18, Georgia District Director Terri Denison and Grady Hedgespeth, Director of SBA's Office of Financial Assistance, met with local National Bankers Association member institutions in Atlanta to discuss their participation in SBA lending programs. That same day, Mr. Hedgespeth provided updates on SBA's pilot Community Advantage Loan Program to eligible Georgia nonprofit organizations. For more information on these topics, please visit www.sba.gov/ga. |
 | | Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director
Entrepreneur Mentor Day in Kentucky National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day is a new event brought to you by the SBA and AARP. This initiative evolved because research shows that "one in four Americans between the ages 44 and 70 are interested in starting their own a business or nonprofit venture in the next five to 10 years." On October 2 from 8:15 am – 12:00 noon, the SBA Kentucky District Office and its resource partners, SBDC, SCORE and the Women's Business Center, along with AARP and Louisville Metro Government, will celebrate the day by offering free resources for entrepreneurs, breakout sessions on small business topics geared to those age 50+, mentoring services, and networking opportunities at the McKendree University – Louisville Campus. This event is free, but advance registration is required, as seating is limited. For more information, go to the SBA Kentucky District Office website and click onto Events and Workshops. |
 | | Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director
The SBA Mississippi District and the Gulfport Branch Offices are in full swing of recovery efforts due to Hurricane Isaac. The following counties are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from SBA: Adams, Amite, Clarke, Forrest, George, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Warren and Wilkinson; and Economic Injury Disaster Loans only for the contiguous counties: Claiborne, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Greene, Issaquena, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Madison, Newton, Perry, Rankin, Simpson, Wayne and Yazoo. Whether you rent or own your own home, own your own business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA. Those affected by Hurricane Isaac may seek more information or assistance by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955. |
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 | | North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director
The NC District Office is pleased to host three Lender Roundtables in October. SBA's Patrick Kelley, Senior Advisor, Office of Capital Access, will present updates to SBA Standard Operating Procedures and recent improvements to the SBA Small Loan Advantage Program. Sessions will take place in Candler (near Asheville), Greensboro and Wilmington. For more information about the roundtables contact Celia Rolls at 704-344-6810 or celia.rolls@sba.gov. |
 | | South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director
The South Carolina District Office welcomes Lead Lender Relations Specialist R. Gregg White to the staff. Prior to joining SBA, he was Director of Business and Cooperative Programs for the USDA-Rural Development South Carolina office. As the office's Lead Lender Relations Specialist, Gregg will promote SBA's loan programs among South Carolina lenders, as well as provide program assistance to the state's active SBA participating lenders. He can be reached at 803-253-3360 or at richard.white@sba.gov. |
 | | Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director
On Tuesday, September 18th, the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, SBA announced eight new nationwide Hispanic partnership agreements, as part of a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and its CEO, Yuri Cunza, along with SBA District Director Walter Perry jointly announced the new partnership arrangement for Nashville at Hispanic Heritage ceremonies held in the area. The SBA and the designated chambers throughout the nation will conduct quarterly programs, with themes such as Access to Capital, for the Hispanic small business community, many to be conducted in both Spanish and English. The other seven national SBA-Hispanic partnership sites are the cities of Philadelphia, PA, Austin, TX, El Paso, TX along with the states of Florida, Utah, California and Ohio. For more information, contact the SBA Tennessee District Office at www.sba.gov/tn. |
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