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Hector Barreto, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, shakes hands with La Paloma Pastries' owner Jose Perez after buying some baked goods.
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Help for small business is there for the asking, SBA chief says

Help for small business is there for the asking, SBA chief says

Small businesses that were hurt financially last year during the nation's economic downturn can get help, but they need to ask for it, the government's top small business administration official said yesterday during a visit to Toledo.

Hector Barreto, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said there are many resources, ranging from loans to business guidance, that can help small businesses in Toledo and nationwide weather the economic storm that began last year and intensified after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Some are turning to the SBA - small business loans are up 11 percent over this time last year and the agency loaned over $10 billion in 2001, Mr. Barreto said.

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``We're very encouraged by our progress. We're seeing a lot of interest at our offices and on our Web site.''

But though many small businesses know they need help, few know where to turn to get it, he added.

``We often say small business doesn't know what it doesn't know,'' said Mr. Barreto, a former small business owner in Los Angeles who became the SBA's administrator in July.

Mr. Barreto, a former chairman of the Latin Business Association in Los Angeles, was a keynote speaker last night at a dinner and seminar, held at the Hilton Hotel, aimed at assisting entrepreneurs. The function was sponsored by several area banks, civic organizations, and small businesses, including El Tiempo, whose publisher, Celso Rodriguez, extended an invitation to Mr. Barreto four months ago to visit Toledo.

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Earlier yesterday he visited several local minority-owned businesses. Today Mr. Barreto was to attend a special luncheon roundtable discussion for members of Toledo's small business community and the Toledo area Chamber of Commerce. The roundtable, sponsored by the Chamber, is at its offices at 300 Madison Ave.

Mr. Barreto said though his agency has offices throughout the U.S., a new toll-free number (1-800-UASKSBA) and an expanding Web site (www.sba.gov), small business owners aren't contacting the agency as much as he would like.

``We want them to know there's access to capital that the SBA can provide. Oftentimes they don't need a $1 million loan, they need a $50,000 loan,'' he said. ``We also have technical resources ... that they can access for free.''

Mr. Barreto said part of his reason for visiting Toledo and Ohio is to increase the SBA's visibility. He visited Columbus Tuesday and will be in Cincinnati later today. He will visit Cleveland later this month. Since July, Mr. Barreto has visited several states and intends to visit them all as time allows.

``I think one of the things we want to do is do outreach and communicate to small businesses that we can do a lot for them,'' he said.

``When we do our business roundtable, we're going to do a lot of listening.

``We're proud of our history, but we can do more,'' he said.

First Published April 11, 2002, 7:31 a.m.

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Hector Barreto, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, shakes hands with La Paloma Pastries' owner Jose Perez after buying some baked goods.
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