 NEWS RELEASE
SBA and NATIONAL LATINA BUSINESS WOMEN Santa Ana, Calif. – The Santa Ana District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Orange County chapter of the National Latina Business Women Association (NLBWA) have signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to provide educational programs and formalize their commitment to encouraging business formation and growth in the Orange County area. The NLBWA, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to encouraging Latinas to develop business and professional goals through education, business referrals and networking. Their vision is to meet the needs of the growing ranks of Latina entrepreneurs, executives and professionals by creating more representation, visibility and business opportunities in the business world. The purpose of the SAM is to develop and foster mutual understanding and a working relationship between the SBA and the NLBWA in order to strengthen and expand small business development in the local area. The SBA contemplates providing specific joint training and outreach activities with the Orange County chapter of the NLBWA during the next 24 months. Through the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Guarantee Program and 504 Program, a total of 468 loans with a dollar value of approximately $108 million were made to Hispanic small business owners in Fiscal Year 2006. For the entire District loan activity totaled 2,990 loans with a dollar value of $936 million in Fiscal Year 2006, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year in total number of loans. For all loan programs, the Santa Ana District Office was 2nd in the nation in total dollars loaned and 10th in the nation for total number of loans. For information about SBA’s programs and services please call the Santa Ana District Office at (714) 550-7420 or visit the website at www.sba.gov/ca/santa. For information on the Orange County chapter of the NLBWA visit www.nlbwa-oc.com. # # # |
