The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration met with business owners in Dallas Friday, saying more small businesses are opening but many are now struggling with supply chain problems.
SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman met with several restaurant and bar owners on Greenville.
"The SBA's work is about funding business so they can grow and be resilient," Guzman says.
Guzman toured businesses with Congressman Colin Allred (D-Dallas) and Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving).
"We know there are still ongoing challenges, particularly around supply chain and with workforce," Allred says. "I talked to some folks who were out last week with COVID, and we know we're still working through that."
Guzman says SBA has provided $34 billion in relief in North Texas, but visits Friday's can answer business owners' questions and hear what they need.
"Some of it could be technical assistance. Some of it could be capital to help them navigate during this time of supply chain challenges and inflationary issues," she says.
Allred says the infrastructure deal can start to alleviate issues with the supply chain. He says the "COMPETES Act" passed by the House of Representatives would also allow the country to secure the supply chain.
"This is a global problem," he says. "We have a global supply chain issue. It's not just the United States, it's around the world."
The infrastructure bill had bipartisan support, but Congressional Republicans have opposed the $350 billion COMPETES Act. Many Republicans have said the bill is not tough enough on China and the bill is wasteful, filled with "Green New Deal" initiatives.
Guzman says, while many small businesses have struggled during the pandemic, more people have been registering businesses. She says applications have increased 34% since the pandemic started.
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