On Monday, May 23rd, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, opened her Las Vegas visit with a roundtable discussion with Rep. Horsford, SBA Pacific Regional Administrator Elmy Bermejo, SBA Nevada Director Saul Ramos, local leaders & business owners, and NV Grow Director Kevin Raiford/staff, Blackstone LaunchPad champion NuLife Kicks, Pastadesso, & other clients/entrepreneurs to discuss leveraging equity and access, and to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster.
In recognition of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Administrator Guzman and Rep. Horsford also visited AAPI-owned Sun’s Thai Food, a local family business that benefitted from a PPP loan that helped sustain their operations during the height of the pandemic. At the Sun’s Thai Restaurant, they were greeted with traditional Thai dance, lots of deliciously prepared authentic Thai food, and were serenaded by one of the NV Grow staff member, Gabriel Interrante, who is a promising musician.