Featured Priority Tour on Small Business Support with Administrator Guzman and Representative Axne

The Greater Des Moines Partnership hosted Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman and Representative Cindy Axne to highlight small business support. As part of its advocacy efforts, The Partnership is working with all members of Iowa's Congressional delegation to plan events in Greater Des Moines (DSM) to discuss featured policy priorities for the region. This event focused on The Partnership’s Federal Featured Priority of Small Business Support, inviting small business leaders for a roundtable discussion with Administrator Guzman and Representative Axne to share their challenges and how the SBA helped them during the pandemic.

Roundtable Discussion

As a small business owner for Cocoa Creative Agency, I was honored to sit at the roundtable to share my story of how my business grew during the pandemic as the need for our virtual services was vital to the success of events. Even with a growing business, I was appreciative of the help we were provided by the SBA-funded Emergency Disaster Loan Program (EIDL). Because of that loan we were able to accomplish our goals and maintain our staff during the pandemic.

Small Business Support

During these discussions Administrator Guzman and Representative Axne highlighted that although the main COVID relief programs have ended, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, there are other resources and programs for small businesses to take advantage of through the SBA such as the Community Navigator Program. And there is still money available to help those businesses that are still struggling, including funding to better serve minority-owned businesses that have been facing the most challenges in the pandemic recovery efforts. Thank you to Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman and Representative Cindy Axne for your support and leadership for small businesses.

Stay tuned for The Partnership’s future Featured Priority Tour events with other members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation.

The Partnership's Public Policy team engages with local, state and federal officials to create public policy that generates economic growth, business prosperity and talent development in Greater Des Moines (DSM). The Partnership is a nonpartisan organization.