SBA reconvenes the Council on Underserved Communities advisory board, seeks nominations

Key Takeaways

On June 22, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is reconvening the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) to help prioritize equity across the administration’s programs and initiatives. The Council will advise SBA on improving its strategies to help underserved communities, focusing on communities that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing credit, capital and other resources critical to small businesses. It will make recommendations to SBA on ways to improve and strengthen equity among women-, veteran- and minority-owned businesses as well as those from low-to-moderate income or rural communities.

Alongside this announcement, SBA issued a solicitation for nominations of eligible stakeholders to serve on the Council. The CUC will be made up of 20 diverse stakeholders representing the interests of urban or rural underserved communities who represent one of the following constituencies:

• Current or former small business owners
• Community leaders
• Small business trade associations
• Academic institutions

To apply for a position on the Council, interested individuals should submit a letter of self-nomination or a letter of nomination from a peer, professional organization, society or member of Congress; the Nominee Information Form; and a resume to either Kendall Corley at Kendall.Corley@sba.gov or to underservedcouncil@sba.gov. Nominations may also be mailed to the Office of the Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd St. SW, Washington, DC 30416. Applications are due by July 20, 2021.

Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis until all vacancies are filled. Council members will serve for a term of two years and may be reappointed for no more than three terms.

NACo strongly encourages qualified county officials to apply for a position on the Council on Underserved Communities. CUC members will provide an essential connection between SBA and small businesses in underserved communities, and county governments have a unique and critical perspective to share on community and economic development at the local level.