I began my government career in 1976 with SBA after serving in the Army for three years including a tour of duty in Vietnam. As DD, I supervised a staff of 55 employees in four offices. Throughout my SBA career, I have served in various positions in headquarters and in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Administrator Alvarez is committed to the formation and growth of veteran-owned small businesses. The Administrator understands and appreciates the enormous contributions that veteran-owned small businesses make to the American economy.
Small businesses create jobs and wealth while empowering their communities.
For example, small businesses are responsible for 75 percent of the new jobs in the economy and employ more than half of the workforce. In January 1974, the SBA created the Office of Veterans Affairs to serve as an advocate for veterans in the area of entrepreneurship. This action did not create any new programs for veterans, but it established a vehicle to ensure that veterans' needs and desires were addressed and satisfied through existing agency programs. SBA's management and technical assistance, lending, surety bond and procurement assistance programs have always been available to all existing and potential small business owners. The SBA estimates that there are approximately 22 million small businesses in the United States.