SBA Administrator Guzman Kicks Off Black Business Month in Little Rock

Press release RO24-40

Administrator Guzman Visited Four Black-Owned Businesses, Met with Arlo Washington of Washington Barber College

Published on August 2, 2024

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - On Thursday, Aug. 1, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)and the voice in President Biden's Cabinet for America's more than 33 million small businesses, traveled to Little Rock to kick off Black Business Month.

In the morning, Administrator Guzman visited People Trust Headquarters, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that offers capital to low and moderate-income communities in Arkansas alongside Arlo Washington, CEO of People Trust Community Loan Fund and Washington Barber College. During this meeting, Administrator Guzman met with · Robert McIntosh, owner, McIntosh, Burgers, Fries, and Pies, to learn about how access to affordable capital helped him on his journey to success.

Administrator Guzman then received a tour of Rock It! Lab where she met with local Black business owners before participating in a fireside chat on capital access and small business resources, moderated by Lenwood Long, CEO of African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs (The Alliance). During the fireside chat, Administrator Guzman focused on highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing efforts to increase access to capital for Black entrepreneurs.

In the afternoon, Administrator Guzman began her Black-owned business tour of Little Rock, traveling first to SBA-funded Certified Pies and Cheesecake on Point, where she met with the business owners and sampled their food. Afterward, Administrator Guzman visited Nelson Intelligence Solutions whose owner, a service-disabled veteran, is enrolled in the SBA's 8(a) Business Development program. Administrator Guzman then traveled to Hair Files Studio, a hair salon that started in part with financial assistance from People Trust.

Finally, Administrator Guzman closed out her day alongside Arlo Washington at Washington Barber College, the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary, "The Barber of Little Rock." At the College, Administrator Guzman met with students and took their questions, offering advice on how to start, run, and grow a successful business.

For follow up interviews with Administrator Guzman, please reach out to Teddy Lake at [email protected].