Congress should back Valley advocate as deputy head of Small Business Administration

For the first time in history, the White House nominee for deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration has strong, genuine ties to the Central Valley.

The nominee, Dilawar Syed, is a self-made entrepreneur who has dedicated his time to bridging gaps within California’s diverse economy and is well-equipped to fill this important role that has been left vacant for more than three years.

As someone dedicated to small business development in the Central Valley and around California for more than 20 years each, I see the impact of SBA’s programs and resources every day in the lives of entrepreneurs struggling to grow their businesses and provide for their families and communities. Ensuring the SBA is fully staffed and led by people with real-world management experience like Syed is critical.

Small businesses represent the diversity and ingenuity of our citizens, and catalyze the health and trajectory of our communities and their overall economy. Last year’s COVID-related shutdowns of the Central Valley’s restaurants, retail stores and many other local establishments were a dramatic reminder of our communities’ reliance on these essential mom-and-pop shops that are often the unsung heroes of our economy.

As devastating as the pandemic’s effects were on small businesses and the greater community, we were braced by programs from the SBA. This government agency became the primary driver of our region’s economic recovery through its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and other educational and funding resources that helped businesses adapt, survive, and get going again.

Approximately 19,000 companies spanning six Central Valley counties received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable PPP loans, helping to retain more than 254,00 workers.

With decades of civic engagement and entrepreneurial experience in technology, health care, and customer service industries, Syed has a proven track record of building and scaling successful businesses. He is also keenly aware of the distinct needs of our ag-driven Central Valley, spurred by his personal passion to connect and invest in California’s underserved communities and to bridge economic divides within his own state.

Syed serves as a volunteer member of Central Valley Community Foundation’s Council of Business Sponsors, and supports our Valley’s economy by coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs here in our community. As chair of the Governor’s Entrepreneurship Taskforce, he has placed an intentional focus on supporting business owners in smaller communities and parts of our state often overlooked.

His leadership at the SBA would put places like California’s Central Valley and other underserved regions a step ahead by having an ally at the federal level who is already well-versed in the struggles and opportunities of regions like ours.

Syed’s nomination is a rare and exciting opportunity, but it is being met with unfortunate gridlock in Congress. Led by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, certain members of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee have chosen to ignore and delay Syed’s nomination process for disingenuous reasons, disregarding his credentials that make him ideally suited, if not overqualified, for the position. This calculated, political move on what should be a routine, streamlined process undermines the SBA’s essential work and devalues small businesses at a critical time they should be supported and prioritized.

I enthusiastically lend my backing of Syed’s nomination process for the sake of the small businesses in the Central Valley, throughout California and around the nation. Join me in urging members of the Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee to show up for the vote on Nov. 17 and not deny a quorum, and let the process fairly and efficiently unfold.

Our nation deserves the opportunity to see Syed’s capabilities on full display and to examine his experience and expertise that qualify him for the job at hand. This is not the time, the arena, or the position to be used for political roadblocks and party line battles. This is the time for congressional action, bipartisan support, and strong SBA leadership so our economy can recover and thrive.

This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM.