Obama Nominates María Contreras-Sweet to Lead SBA

By Aaron Montes

Washington D.C., Jan.15 — 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…