In 2023, a total of 54 states and 25 Tribal governments or joint Tribal applications deployed nearly $1 billion in SSBCI Capital Program funds. Despite this success, SSBCI is routinely heralded as the “most important small business program you’ve never heard of.” With the 2024 General Election coming into focus, SSBCI success stories may be in high demand.

In this session, speakers will discuss the importance of highlighting successes and provide best practices for demonstrating the economic benefits of SSBCI programs. This will include conversation about how each transaction is beneficial to the small business and its community, as well as to the program manager’s ability to deploy additional capital under the SSBCI banner.

• Mitchell Smith, Government Affairs Program Manager, Sunnova Energy Corporation

• Samantha Asker, Outreach Manager, U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Monika Athwal, Manager of Innovation Programs, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Marta Cabral, Senior Project Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Kaelan Richards, Communications Consultant, U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a $27 billion investment in clean technologies that will rely on small businesses for successful implementation. However, many of the businesses vital to this success either do not exist yet or will need to drastically expand to deliver the range of services necessary for a shift to clean infrastructure.

During this event, panelists will present an overview of the GGRF and how its three subprograms function. Speakers then will provide insights on what types of small businesses are needed to achieve GGRF goals and how local practitioners can fully leverage SSBCI to bring GGRF dollars to their communities.

• Mitchell Smith, Government Affairs Program Manager, Sunnova Energy Corporation

• Anne Bovaird Nevins, Director, Accelerator for America
• Bryan Fike, Research Officer, Drexel University
• Bert Hunter, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Connecticut Green Bank
• Krystal Langholz, Chief Community Officer, Calvert Impact Capital
• Tyler Vogel, National Policy Manager, NCRC Community Development Fund

The second iteration of SSBCI provided over $500 million to tribal governments for programs that catalyze investment in small businesses and fund technical assistance for eligible businesses applying for SSBCI, as well as other governmental programs that support small businesses.

In this session, speakers will provide guidance on how to maximize SSBCI investment in tribal communities. Attendees will also learn about tribal and state government collaborations that can further enhance investments in native-owned small businesses.

• Angela Blatt, Director

• Casey Pearlman, Executive Director, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation
• Sue Taylor, Development Director, Native American Development Corporation
• Shannon Ward, Chief Lending Officer, Oweesta Corporation

SSBCI 2.0 has provided three different sources of funding for a range of technical assistance: the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program, the Capital Readiness Program administered by the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program. How can SSBCI practitioners and small businesses draw upon these funding streams to ensure that all gaps in the ecosystem have been filled?

In this session, presenters will discuss the differences between each technical assistance funding program and how SSBCI practitioners are using them in tandem to fill gaps. Speakers will also provide best practices on how to maximize the impacts of each program.

• Lori DeWine, Managing Director, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Michele Abraham, State Director, South Carolina Small Business Development Centers
• Howard Dent, Specialty Programs Manager, SBDC Office of Minority Business Development
• Mary Kelly, Project Manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Suzanne Perreault, Director, Small Business Services, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Angela Ward, Product Manager, Technical Assistance, NetWork Kansas

Small businesses are a vital component of all American communities, especially those in rural or remote areas, where small businesses operate nearly 85% of establishments and employ almost 55% of workers. Unfortunately, employment in rural small businesses has not seen the levels of growth that urban and suburban areas have during the last decade. SSBCI aims to improve that growth through $1 billion of incentives designed to drive investment in socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) owned businesses - which includes individuals in rural communities.

In this session, practitioners will address the challenges and opportunities they face when investing in rural small businesses. The discussion will include best practices for marketing programs to rural communities and improving economic outcomes in even the most remote communities.

• Lori DeWine, Managing Director, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Ronald Kelly, Outreach Lead, State Small Business Credit Initiative, U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Armeer Kenchen, Executive Director, SSBCI and CornerSquare, North Carolina Rural Center
• Olivia Kettenring, Business Development Manager, Montana Department of Commerce