Established in 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is a federal agency that helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Among other things, SBA leads federal efforts to award a specified percentage of federal contracts to small businesses, including woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and businesses participating in programs such as the 8(a) Business Development Program and HUBZone. The American Jobs Plan—currently being debated by Congress—would expand SBA’s role by authorizing a network of small business incubators and accelerators in underrepresented communities; business development academies with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and a new program to recognize small businesses with state and local experience as eligible for federal prime contract opportunities. Please join the Standing Panel on Social Equity on October 27th at 1:30 PM Eastern Time for a conversation led by the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development’s Associate Administrator, Bibi Hidalgo, on the:
Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of SBA leaders and to offer their insights on how the agency can best ensure a diverse small business contracting base.