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The United States Government Manual
Small Business Administration
409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416
202-205-6600
202-205-7064
http://www.sba.gov
SBA Headquarters
| ADMINISTRATOR | Christopher M. Pilkerton, Acting |
| Deputy Administrator | (vacancy) |
| Chief Counsel | Major Clark, Acting |
| Senior Advisor | Patricia Gibson |
| ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATORS | |
| Capital Access | William Manger |
| Communications and Public Liaison | Jimmy F. Billimoria |
| Congressional and Legislative Affairs | Michael Hershey |
| Disaster Assistance | James Rivera |
| Entrepreneurial Development | Allen Gutierrez |
| Field Operations | Michael Vallante, Acting |
| Government Contracting and Business Development | Robb Wong |
| International Trade | David M. Glaccum |
| Investment and Innovation | Joseph Shepard |
| Small Business Development Centers | George Koklanaris |
| Veterans Business Development | Larry Stubblefield |
| ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR | |
| Hearings and Appeals | Delorice Price Ford |
| CHIEF OFFICERS | |
| Financial | Dorrice Roth |
| Information | Maria A. Roat |
| Operating | (vacancy) |
| General Counsel | Christopher M. Pilkerton |
| National Ombudsman | Stefanie Wehagen |
Regional Administrators
| REGIONS | |
| I | Wendell G. Davis |
| II | Steve Bulger |
| III | Michelle Christian |
| IV | Ashley Daniel Bell |
| V | Robert Scott |
| VI | Justin Crossie |
| VII | Thomas Salisbury |
| VIII | Daniel Nordberg |
| IX | Michael Vallante |
| X | Jeremy Field |
Office of Inspector General
| Inspector General | H. Mike Ware |
The above list of key personnel was updated 6–2019.
The Small Business Administration aids, assists, and counsels entrepreneurs and protects their business interests; preserves free and competitive enterprise; and maintains and strengthens the overall economy.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On July 30, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved Public Law 83–163, which is also cited as the "Small Business Act of 1953." This Act created the Small Business Administration (SBA), whose present existence and authority are derived from the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 661).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-67/pdf/STATUTE-67-Pg230.pdfFor the SBA statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 13, Part 101.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d38ae405ec8120025c2a65388e249f57&mc=true&node=pt13.1.101&rgn=div5The SBA included an organizational chart in its "Agency Financial Report—Fiscal Year 2018" on page 12.
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/SBA%20FY%202018%20AFR.pdfACTIVITIES
Advocacy
The Office of Advocacy (OA) promotes the views and elevates the concerns of small business before Congress, White House officials, representatives of Federal agencies, Federal court judges, and policymakers on the State level. Within the Federal government, the OA speaks independently on behalf of small business and is the source of small business statistics. The OA also has watchdog responsibilities, ensuring that small business receives the support and consideration that the "Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980" (Public Law 96–354), as amended, provides.
https://advocacy.sba.gov | Email: advocacy@sba.govBonding for Contractors
The Surety Bond Guarantee program helps small and emerging contractors obtain the bonding necessary for bidding on and receiving non-Federal contracts up to $6.5 million and Federal contracts up to $10 million. The SBA guarantees bonds that participating surety companies issue and reimburses between 70–90 percent of losses and expenses incurred should a business default on the contract. Construction, service, and supply contractors are eligible for the program if they meet certain standards.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bondsBusiness Development
The Office of Business Development (OBD) oversees the 8(a) Business Development program. The Office assists with contracts and loans, counsels, expands access to capital and credit, gives technical guidance, and offers training workshops. Eligible 8(a) program participants may receive Federal surplus property on a priority basis. One of the OBD's principal development tools is the Mentor-Protégé program, which allows participants to benefit from business development assistance provided by successful companies.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/obd/resourcesCapital Access
The Office of the Associate Administrator for Capital Access increases the availability of capital through banks and other lending partners. It oversees SBA programs that help small businesses gain access to capital. These programs include the 7(a) general business guarantee, 504 Certified Development Company, SBA surety bond guarantee, and microlending.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ocaDisaster Assistance
The SBA serves as the Federal disaster bank for nonfarm, private sector losses. It lends money to disaster survivors for repairing or replacing their most damaged property. The agency makes direct loans with subsidized interest rates to individuals, homeowners, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations.
https://www.sba.gov/content/disaster-assistance | Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.govField Operations
The Office of Field Operations is responsible for the provision of SBA services and availability of its products: It serves as the critical link between SBA policymakers and businessmen and women who operate small businesses. The Office provides policy guidance and oversight to regional administrators and district directors for achieving agency goals and objectives and for solving problems in specific operational areas. It plays a liaison role and expedites issues for the regional and district offices when dealing with the central office, coordinating the presentation of views from the field. It also establishes and monitors district performance goals and organizes reviews of the field offices.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locationsFinancial Assistance
The SBA does not lend money directly to owners of small businesses, but it supports lenders in their efforts to make loans to them. The SBA sets guidelines for loans made by lending partners, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. The SBA reduces the risk of lending and makes it easier for lenders to access capital, which allows owners and operators of small business to receive loans more easily. The SBA gives its guarantee to lending institutions and certified development companies that make loans to small businesses. Small businesses use the borrowed money for working capital and financing the acquisition of land and buildings, for constructing new and improving existing facilities, and for purchasing equipment and machinery.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loansGovernment Contracting
Through various programs and services, the SBA assists small businesses—including HUBZone certified firms and disadvantaged, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses—with receiving Government procurement. The contracting liaison helps small-scale entrepreneurs secure an equitable share of the natural resources that the Federal Government sells. The Administration also works with the Office of Management and Budget and other Federal agencies to establish policy and regulations affecting small business access to Government contracts.
https://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contractingHistorically Underutilized Business Zone Development
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program was part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The program fosters economic development and employment in HUBZones, which include Indian reservations, through the establishment of preferences. The program provides greater access to Federal contracting opportunities for qualified businesses. The SBA regulates and implements the program, determining which businesses are eligible to receive contracts, maintaining a list of qualified businesses that Federal agencies may use for locating vendors, adjudicating protests of eligibility, and reporting to the Congress on the program's effect on employment and investment.
https://www.sba.gov/content/understanding-hubzone-program | Email: HUBZone@sba.govInternational Trade
The Office of International Trade (OIT) makes American small businesses more competitive worldwide by developing international trade opportunities for them. It collaborates with other Federal agencies and with public and private sector groups to promote the exports of small businesses and to help entrepreneurs who seek export opportunities. Through 21 U.S. Export Assistance Centers, SBA district offices, and service-provider partners, the OIT coordinates and directs the Administration's export initiatives.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oitLocal Assistance
The SBA supports business centers for women (WBCs), business outreach centers for veterans (VBOCs), small-business development centers (SBDCs), and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). These programs and others help the SBA further its reach beyond the regional, to the local level.
https://www.sba.gov/local-assistanceNative American Affairs
The Office of Native American Affairs assists and encourages the creation, development, and expansion of small businesses that Native Americans own. It develops and implements initiatives designed to address specific business challenges encountered by Native American entrepreneurs.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/naaRegulatory Fairness
Congress established the National Ombudsman and 10 Regulatory Fairness (RegFair) Boards in 1996 as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. The National Ombudsman assists owners of small businesses when they experience excessive or unfair Federal regulatory enforcement action. The National Ombudsman receives comments from small businesses and acts as a liaison between them and Federal agencies. These comments are forwarded to the appropriate Federal agencies for review and consideration of the fairness of the enforcement actions. The National Ombudsman sends a copy of an agency's response to the business owner. In some cases, fines are reduced or eliminated and decisions changed in favor of the owner.
Each of the RegFair Boards comprises five volunteer members who are owners, operators, or officers of small enterprises. The SBA Administrator appoints board members for 3-year terms. Each RegFair Board meets at least annually with the Ombudsman, reports to the Ombudsman on substantiated instances of excessive or unfair enforcement, and comments on the annual report to Congress prior to its publication.
https://www.sba.gov/ombudsman | Email: ombudsman@sba.govResearch Investment / Technology Transfer
The Office of Investment and Innovation manages the Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Together, they provide billions of dollars each year for small enterprises to participate in federally funded research and development and to cooperate with Government agencies and research institutions and universities. The SBIR and STTR programs stimulate the creation of intellectual property with potential for commercialization and with applications in a broad range of sectors in the Nation's economy.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ooi/about-usSmall Business Development
The Office of Small Business Development Centers funds, oversees, and supports the nationwide Small Business Development Center (SBDC ) network. The SBDC program provides one-stop management assistance to current and prospective owners of small businesses in central and easily accessible branch locations. The program relies on the cooperation of the private sector, the educational community, and Federal, State, and local governments.
The SBDC program delivers up-to-date counseling, technical help, and training in all aspects of managing a small business. Its services include assistance with feasibility studies and with engineering, financial, marketing, organization, production, and technical challenges. SBDC activities include international trade assistance, procurement assistance, rural development, venture capital information, and technical assistance.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdcVenture Capital
The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program was created in 1958 to connect venture capital with the needs of startups and expanding small businesses. SBICs are privately owned and managed venture capital funds, which the SBA licenses and regulates. They use their own capital, combined with SBA guaranteed funds, to make equity and debt investments in qualifying small businesses. Fund managers may invest up to 75 percent of total capital in small businesses that have no more than 49 percent of their employees oversees, a tangible net worth of between $6 and $19.5 million, and an aftertax income averaged over the previous 2 years of between $2 and $6.5 million. At least 25 percent of the fund's total capital must be invested in smaller U.S. enterprises that have no more than 49 percent of their employees oversees, a tangible net worth of less than $6 million, and an aftertax income averaged over the previous 2 years of less than $2 million.
https://www.sba.gov/partners/sbics/apply-be-sbic#section-header-6 | Email: askSBIC@sba.govVeterans Business Development
The Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) formulates, executes, and advances policies and programs that provide assistance to small businesses that veterans own and control. Exclusively promoting veteran entrepreneurship, the OVBD helps veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, active-duty servicemembers, transitioning servicemembers, and their dependents or survivors, to avail themselves of all SBA programs and their benefits. The OVBD is involved in each SBA program, ensuring that veterans receive special consideration in each program's operation. The Veterans Business Outreach Program is an OVBD initiative that oversees Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide.
https://www.sba.gov/content/veteran-service-disabled-veteran-ownedWomen's Business Empowerment
The Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) enables and empowers female entrepreneurs through advocacy, education, outreach, and support. OWBO programs provide business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and marketing opportunities, including Federal contracts. The Women's Business Center (WBC) program offers SBA services in almost every State. A WBC tailors its services according to the needs of its individual community. Each WBC provides training in finance, management, marketing, and the Internet, as well as offering access to all financial and procurement assistance programs of the SBA.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/wbo | Email: owbo@sba.govSources of Information
Blog
The SBA blog offers information, news, and perspectives that deal with doing business on a small scale.
https://www.sba.gov/blogsBusiness Opportunities
Information on selling to the Government and qualifying for Government contracts is available online. The SBA also provides online resources for small businesses and posts information on Government contracting programs on its Web site.
https://www.sba.gov/contractingCareer Opportunities
To carry out its mission, the SBA relies on professionals who are culturally astute, have strong communication and presentation skills, can write effectively, and posses technological proficiency.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-team/jobs-sbaIn 2018, the SBA ranked 20th among 27 midsize agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/SB00Climate / Sustainability
The SBA's Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (effective, 30 June 2017 ) presents a blueprint and a framework for the agency to carry out its mission in a way that helps the biosphere and demonstrates a commitment to the creation of a clean energy economy The plan addresses reducing greenhouse gases, pollution, waste, and water use. It also discusses strategies, targets, and metrics for climate change adaptation and resilience planning.
https://www.sba.gov/document/support--strategic-sustainability-performance-planContact Information
Email addresses and phone numbers are available on the "Contact the SBA" web page (and on the "SBA Locations" web page).
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/contact-sba?interiorpage2015The SBA public affairs team responds to questions from the media and general public, arranges interviews with appropriate program staff, and provides referrals and other information. To find an SBA local or regional spokesperson, visit the "Regional and Local Media" web page.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/regional-local-mediaThe Press Office team's contact information is available on the "Press Office Contacts" web page. That team includes staff from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of Advocacy, Office of Inspector General, and the Freedom of Information Act Office.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-office-contactsEvents
The "Find Events" page lists upcoming SBA events nationwide.
https://www.sba.gov/events/find/?dateRange=all&distance=200&pageNumber=1Glossary
The SBA maintains an online glossary.
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/obd/resources/13240Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Enacted in 1966, the FOIA took effect on July 4, 1967. The statute makes all existing Federal Government records available to the public; however, a record may be shielded from disclosure by one or more of nine exemptions or by specific harm that its disclosure may cause. Any person, except a fugitive from the law, has a right to request access to Federal agency records.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-performance/open-government/foia | Email: FOIA@sba.govIntroduction to the SBA
A short video explaining the SBA's principal services is available online.
https://www.sba.gov/videos/introduction-sba?interiorpage2015Learning Center
The SBA offers online courses to help entrepreneurs start and run businesses.
https://www.sba.gov/learning-centerLocations
The "SBA Locations" page helps visitors find contact and other information for disaster offices, district offices, headquarters offices, regional offices, and loan and guaranty centers.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locationsNewsroom
The SBA newsroom features congressional testimonies, disaster press releases, media advisories and other press releases, speeches, and weekly lending reports.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroomOpen Data
The SBA makes data resources and application programming interfaces (APIs) available to the public. The "Open Data Sources" web page lists all the SBA datasets that the general public can access.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-performance/open-government/digital-sba/open-data/open-data-sourcesOpen Government
The SBA supports the Open Government initiative by promoting the principles of collaboration, participation, and transparency.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-performance/open-governmentPlain Language
SBA writers and editors are committed to communicating in plain language. If a document or web pages lacks clarity or is difficult to understand, contact the SBA by email.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-performance/open-government/other-plans-reports/plain-language-page | Email: plain.language@sba.govResource Guide
The Winter 2019 edition of the "Small Business Resource Guide" is available online in Portable Document Format (PDF).
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/what-we-do/resource-guidesSite Map
The Web site map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.sba.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The SBA maintains social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/open-government/about-sbagov-website/social-mediaVideos
The SBA has a collection of online videos. The collection includes a 2-minute video series and other videos that are grouped by topic: financing, Government contracting, managing a business, marketing, and starting a business.
https://www.sba.gov/videosThe Sources of Information were updated 6–2019.