SBA honors American entrepreneurs and celebrates Main Street during Small Business Week

Letter to the editor

During National Small Business Week, we do more than recognize success. We celebrate what small businesses represent across this country: grit, independence, and the determination to build something that lasts for generations to come.

As the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Administrator for the Southeast, I witness first-hand how small businesses power our communities every day. Entrepreneurs from across the Southeast embody the diversity, resilience, and strength of the more than 36 million small businesses nationwide that employ nearly half of America’s private-sector workforce.

For more than 60 years, National Small Business Week has honored the entrepreneurs who create jobs, strengthen local economies, and embody the American spirit of hard work and ingenuity. This year, that recognition carries even greater meaning. President Donald Trump has made clear that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and a top priority for his administration. Through bold America First policies such as pro-growth tax relief, smart deregulation, fair trade, and American energy dominance, he has created an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive rather than simply survive. These efforts are delivering real results. Small businesses are hiring, investing, and expanding once again.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler shares this unwavering commitment. She has consistently championed policies and programs that cut red tape, expand access to capital, and deliver practical resources directly to Main Street. Under her leadership, the SBA is laser-focused on equipping small business owners with the tools they need to succeed in the Southeast and across the nation.

In the North Florida District, we are proud to recognize this year’s National Small Business Week honorees.

• Small Business Person: Douglas and Joseph Fournier, Sunshine Rail Service LLC, Palatka, FL 
• Rural Small Business: Stephanie McCoy Gaither, Gator Bait Sports Bar and Grill, Melrose, FL
• Small Business Manufacturer: Ahmed Tawfik, EZ Automation Systems, LLC, Jacksonville, FL
• Woman Owned Small Business: Barbara Parham, Artistic Talent Group, LLC, Orlando, FL
• Blue-Collar Small Business: Lyle Cummings, Hotspray Industrial Coatings, Inc., Orlando, FL
• Veteran Owned Small Business: Ryan Clark, Code Ninjas, St. Augustine, FL
• Small Business development Center Excellence and Innovation Award: Florida SBDC at UCF, Orlando, FL
• Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award: Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL

These entrepreneurs represent different paths to success, but they share a common thread: relentless hard work, innovation, and deep commitment to strengthening their local communities.

This week, the SBA is connecting entrepreneurs to real tools for growth, including the free two-day Virtual Summit on May 5 and 6. The summit offers workshops, mentorship, networking, and direct access to federal resources. It is a powerful reminder that support for small businesses isn’t just talk. It’s action.

National Small Business Week is more than a celebration. It’s a call to action. Whether you own a business, work for one, or simply shop locally, I encourage you to participate. Register for the Virtual Summit, visit your local Small Business Development Center or SBA district office, and see how reduced regulations, better access to capital, and a renewed focus on American-made products are opening doors for growth. Let’s use this week to honor the hard-working entrepreneurs across the Southeast who continue to make the American Dream a reality.

Tyler Teresa, SBA Regional Administrator

The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.