Amata Chairs Hearing Examining Tech Impact on SBA Development Programs
Washington, D.C. – Thursday Chairman Aumua Amata presided over a Small Business Subcommittee on Health and Technology hearing that examined how SBA development programs are evolving with technology.
"American Samoa depends on small businesses, and constant changes in technology bring both opportunities and sometimes burdens to them," Aumua Amata said. "The SBA's entrepreneurial programs are adapting to technology changes that can be new to businesses, but technology is also making these SBA programs more available to wider audiences. American Samoan businesses can access some programs remotely, but I hope to see these opportunities increasingly able to reach American Samoa more consistently."
Thursday's hearing was titled Tech Talks: How SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Have Evolved with Technology. Text of the Congresswoman's opening remarks are available here and complete video of the hearing is available here.
Chairman Amata with Hearing witnesses.
The hearing benefited from an expert group of witnesses testifying on behalf of the Association of Women's Business Centers, America's Small Business Development Centers, SCORE Association, and the Veterans Business Outreach Center.
Congresswoman Amata's first questions to the witnesses regarded the availability of SBA services in remote locations, including American Samoa, that do not have "brick and mortar" facilities for their programs. For instance, the nearest SBA Small Business Development Center is in Hawaii; however, some programs, such as SCORE webinars might be available to American Samoan businesses. The hearing examined how the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Development programs are changing their training and counseling programs to reflect the market's increased reliance on technology.
"SBA programs can help small businesses navigate technology changes," continued Congresswoman Amata. "Ultimately, we want technology not to leave small businesses behind, but to lift them up."
Amata Chairing the Hearing on SBA Development Programs.
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