SBA Names City of Waterloo as the 2018 Iowa Small Business Community of the Year
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office cited key successes as Waterloo’s ongoing partnership with neighboring communities, especially Cedar Falls, and its support of regional economic development initiatives, such as the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, The TechWorks Campus and the University of Northern Iowa’s wide range of economic development programs like the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. The city also supports a strong Main Street program and SBA resources such as America’s Small Business Development Center at UN I and local SCORE mentors. Its ongoing partnership with the SBA has contributed to SBA’s loan volume doubling from nine to 18 loans in the past year. In addition, Waterloo-based Blackhawk Economic Development Corporation was recently honored as SBA’s Top Certified Development Company in Iowa. The Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has will honor the city of Waterloo as the recipient of its 2018 SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year Award.
This is the fourth year for the award, which highlights community efforts to support small business. The City of Waterloo was recognized by the SBA’s Iowa District Office based on the following criteria:
- Key programs and incentives implemented to attract and retain small businesses.
- Leveraging of community resources with other federal, state, county and local programs to benefit the small business community.
- Examples of how the community directly contributed to the success of local small businesses.
“This recognition of Waterloo is long overdue,” said Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office. “Under Mayor Quentin Hart’s leadership, Waterloo has made small business a major focus of its economic development strategy. By collaborating with other economic development partners at the federal, state and regional levels, Waterloo is creating an ideal environment for small business start-ups and expansions.”
Armstrong cited key successes as Waterloo’s ongoing partnership with neighboring communities, especially Cedar Falls, and its support of regional economic development initiatives, such as the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, The TechWorks Campus and the University of Northern Iowa’s wide range of economic development programs like the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. The city also supports a strong Main Street program and SBA resources such as America’s Small Business Development Center at UNI and local SCORE mentors. Its ongoing partnership with the SBA has contributed to SBA’s loan volume doubling from nine to 18 loans in the past year. In addition, Waterloo-based Blackhawk Economic Development Corporation was recently honored as SBA’s Top Certified Development Company in Iowa.
“Waterloo is seeing explosive growth in our small businesses and start-ups,” said Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart. “Connecting businesses with resources and cultivating a business friendly climate in Waterloo is a top priority. This recognition from the SBA of our efforts is affirmation that we are doing things right. It is gratifying and encouraging to the City and our partners.”
The award will be presented to Waterloo during the Iowa Smart Conference in Des Moines on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. It will be re-presented at a local event in Waterloo (TBD) later in May.
In recognition of the small business community’s contributions to the American economy and society, the President of the United States designates one week each year as National Small Business Week. Scheduled for the week of April 30th of this year, Small Business Week 2018 will honor the more than 28 million small businesses in America. Since its establishment in 1963, the highlight of this annual tradition is the presentation of awards which focus on the outstanding contributions of small business persons at the district, state and national levels.
For more information on Small Business Week 2018, visit https://www.sba.gov/nsbw/nsbw
Pictured L-R, Iowa District Director Jayne Armstrong; Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber CEO Cary Darrah, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, with Waterloo’s award for Iowa SBA Small Business Community of the Year; Randy Pilkington, Executive Director – UNI Business & Community Services; Adrienne Miller, Planner City of Waterloo, Stephen A. Brustkern, Executive Director, Black Hawk Economic Development, Inc.; SBA Region VII Administrator Tom Salisbury; and Iowa District Office EDS Lori Hackney.