Investing in America agenda helps Minnesota small businesses, creates good jobs

President Biden’s Investing in America economic agenda is strengthening small businesses, while catalyzing once-in-a century generational investments to grow America’s inclusive economy, increase equitable fair market competition, tackle climate change, and reshore domestic manufacturing. The Investing in America economic agenda is fueling a small business boom, exceeding 18 million business applications since 2021—historically the three strongest years of new business applications under the Biden-Harris Administration — with more than 224,000 filed in Minnesota.
Nationally and in Minnesota there’s unprecedented demand for the SBA’s free business counseling, non-predatory capital, and contracting help to sell to the federal government. Investing in America represents four bi-partisan laws signed by President Biden that’s stimulating high demand for SBA assistance: the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
These landmark laws are driving public investments that rebuild our roads, bridges, and airports toward advancing the North Star State’s domestic and global commerce, while enhancing community development. Investments are also for sustainable green energy, clean air, and safe water systems that help Minnesotans attain financial savings, build wealth, and improve wellness. As small businesses do this work, they also create good jobs.
Diverse small businesses such as rural-based, women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and veterans are benefitting from structural investments, as with family legacy small business Scamp Trailers. They’re an American manufacturing firm in Backus, Minnesota that received SBA loans to grow. The infrastructure investments in roads and bridges plays a vital role stimulating local and international tourism dollar spend on America’s highways. Nationally, more than 23,000 infrastructure projects have been funded to improve how Americans work and play.
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman created a level playing field so entrepreneurs know about infrastructure opportunities, find financing, identify growth markets to expand customers and increase job employment with the SBA’s online Investing in America Small Business HUB (IIA Hub) at www.sba.gov/IIAhub. On the SBA’s IIA HUB, home repair and electrical trade small businesses can learn about energy tax rebates to position and compete for residential jobs. Small manufacturing firms can learn how to qualify for green matching grants up to $350,000. And owners in the construction and building trades can secure contracts to break ground and install low-cost, high-speed internet for nearly 19% of Minnesotans lacking an internet subscription so they get help on business, family, education and health concerns.
With a whole-of-government approach, the SBA is collaborating with other federal agencies, Minnesota DEED, and community business groups on local events and webinars to meet small businesses where they are. It’s important for small businesses to seize the tremendous opportunities to start-up, grow and expand from infrastructure projects. For help, visit www.sba.gov, contact the SBA Minnesota District Office and follow our LinkedIn accounts at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sbaminnesota/ and https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sba-great-lakes.
 
Geri Sanchez Aglipay serves as Great Lakes Regional Administrator for the U. S. Small Business Administration (U.S. SBA) in Chicago, IL., overseeing the agency’s field offices in Minnesota Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.