Obama Nominates María Contreras-Sweet Nominates to Lead SBA

Aaron Montes

Hispanic Link News Service

President Barack Obama today nominated María Contreras-Sweet to head the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Contreras-Sweet, 58, emigrated from Guadalajara, Mexico to the United States at age 5 with her mother. She offers a mix of private sector and governmental experience. She is vice-chair of New America Alliance. The founder of PROAMÉRICA bank, which provides loans to Latino entrepreneurs in the Greater Los Angeles community. She served as Secretary of California’s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency under Governor Gray Davis for three years beginning in January 1999.

PROÁMERICA president Bruce Mills told Hispanic Link News Service that her nomination brings direct and positive exposure for the community the bank serves. He said, “She will be a lightning rod for small businesses and it will be great for the nation. This country was built on small and medium-sized businesses.”

“We hope the U.S. Senate acts expeditiously in approving the President’s nomination,” he added.

Contreras-Sweet’s nomination is the final piece to President Obama’s second-term cabinet. She will be the eighth woman he has appointed and will accompany Labor Secretary Thomas Pérez as the second Latino now serving in his cabinet. President Obama announced on Wednesday evening that he was elevating the position to cabinet level to consider small businesses when talking about the economic agenda.

María Pilar Ávila, chief executive officer of New America Alliance, said of Contrera-Sweet’s nomination,“This is not only to be celebrated by the Latino community, but by all small businesses. It is in the best interest of the private sector to appoint more Latinas in leading positions, public and private.”

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