The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2021 National Small Business Week celebrations begin with a three-day virtual summit. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will kick off the national event, addressing nearly 30,000 registered participants during the educational, training, and networking event.
This year’s free event will spotlight the resilience of America’s entrepreneurs and the renewal of the small business economy as they build back better from the economic crisis brought on by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, said the SBA.
National Small Business Week events will continue through September 15, inviting small businesses to participate in educational webinars, presentations, and conversations with Administrator Guzman and leaders from other federal agencies and industries.
In his proclamation declaring September 12-18 as National Small Business Week, President Joe Biden stated, “The American entrepreneurial spirit is a defining quality of our Nation which time and again has lifted us to new heights and carried us through our greatest challenges. Small businesses are not only the engines of our economic progress — they are the heart and soul of our communities. During National Small Business Week, we celebrate our Nation’s small businesses — the pillars of their neighborhoods”.
Administrator Casillas Guzman also announced the full speaker slate for National Small Business Week, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Chef José Andrés, and White House Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Cedric Richmond.
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Other panelists and participants will include Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mayor Steve Adler, Austin, Texas; Mayor Regina Romero, Tucson, Ariz.; Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago, Ill.; Tarik Brooks, President of Combs Enterprises, and Oisin Hanrahan, Chief Executive Officer of Angi’s.
In an interview with Abasto, Mike Arriola, regional director of the SBA in North Carolina, invited all Hispanic small business owners and future entrepreneurs to participate in the virtual event.
National Small Business Week Virtual Summit Speakers Line up
Monday, September 13 – “Getting Back on Track: Resources to Build Back Better”
- Opening Keynote Address by: Isabella Casillas Guzman, SBA Administrator (11-11:30 a.m. EDT)
- Keynote Address by: Cedric Richmond, White House Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement (11-11:30 a.m. EDT)
- Keynote Address by: Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur (11-11:30 a.m. EDT)
- “Life after COVID – A Fireside Chat with SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Restaurateur Chef José Andrés”- José Andrés, Chef, Restaurateur and Founder of World Central Kitchen (12:40-1:10 p.m. EDT)
Tuesday, September 14 – “Better Serving Small Businesses and Underserved Communities”
- “Support Latino Biz: How these Mayors are Leading the Way” – (3:40-4:40 p.m. EDT) Participants: Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mayor Steve Adler, Austin, Texas; Mayor Regina Romero, Tucson, Ariz.; Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago, Ill. Moderator: Antwaun Griffin, Chief of Staff for the SBA
- Special Remarks by: Tarik Brooks, Chief Operating Officer of Combs Enterprises, will speak on the importance of Black and Brown communities coming together to support each other. (4:45-5:00 p.m. EDT)
Wednesday, September 15 – “Continuance to Support Resilience and Renewal”
- Special Remarks by: Oisin Hanrahan, Chief Executive Officer of Angi’s (formerly Angie’s List), will share small business experiences as well as trends and insights on how Angi’s has maneuvered through the pandemic and positioned for the future.
The free, three-day conference will take place in a virtual atrium, which will showcase a series of educational panels on best practices for small businesses to pivot and recover in a changing economy. This year, National Small Business Week events will also provide a forum where business owners will be able to get expert advice, learn new business strategies, connect with industry experts, and meet other business owners as they look to pivot and recover.
Registration is required; individuals interested in the conference can register here.