SBA, UAMMI sign pact to unify efforts

The U.S. Small Business Administration Utah District Office and the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative have signed a strategic alliance memorandum (SAM) to unify the efforts of the two organizations, share information and align essential services and resources to serve Utah’s small-business owners.

“We continue to build relationships with key organizations that assist small-business owners, because it’s these entrepreneurs who play a significant role in Utah’s economic growth and recovery,” said Marla Trollan, SBA Utah District director. “The SAM will help up coordinate and leverage our resources to further our reach to small businesses across the state.”

SBA and UAMMI kicked off the new relationship with a COVID-19 update webinar highlighting the extension of the SBA COVID-19 program deadlines to May 31.

“The organizations share a common mission to assist small- business owners by providing financial, contractual and business development counseling,” a statement from the SBA said. The SAM outlines how they will work together to maximize their different services, providing maximum benefits to the small-business communities when delivered in coordination with each other.

Specific ways the organizations will collaborate include sharing programs and services materials, marketing materials, and other publications, as well as sharing information on each organization’s websites and providing presenters to participate in workshops, conferences, seminars and other activities to discuss SBA financing, government contracting and other business topics.

“This partnership will work to provide needed assistance to entrepreneurs who are starting and growing small businesses,” Trollan said. “We hope to hear feedback soon about the resources businesses are using and what programs they are most interested in.”

UAMMI is a nonprofit that brings together public, private, community, industry and education partners to assure growth and sustainability of Utah’s advanced material and manufacturing industry. The mission of UAMMI is to ensure that Utah is the global leader in value-added advanced materials, manufacturing, technology development and design by integrating industry, academic and government contributors in ways that enhance collaboration, promote business opportunities, share knowledge resulting from relevant research and engage a skilled and trained workforce.