Biden taps Isabel Guzman to lead the Small Business Administration

President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Isabel Guzman to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA), a transition source confirmed to The Hill. 

Guzman is director of California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate, a post she has held since April 2019. Previously, Guzman worked at the SBA under former President Obama as deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to the administrator.

Small businesses have been hit particularly hard due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the SBA under President Trump was in charge of accepting applications for loans through the popular Paycheck Protection Program.

Guzman, if confirmed, would oversee any extensions to the loan program, which was intended to provide small businesses with forgivable loans to keep their businesses afloat and keep employees on their payrolls.

The program just received a $284 billion injection from the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed in December.

Guzman’s nomination is a win for the Latina community who has called for more representation in Biden’s Cabinet. Following his election victory in November, the former vice president promised to create a “Cabinet that looks like America.”

Small Business for America’s Future, a coalition of small business owners, congratulated Guzman for the nomination.  

The coalition’s senior adviser Rhett Buttle said he has worked with Guzman, as well as Biden’s reported pick for Commerce Secretary Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), over several years and commended her work ethic and commitment to entrepreneurs.

“After four years of an administration that put the needs of big business first, we are encouraged to see President-elect Biden give small businesses the leadership and help they deserve. We welcome an opportunity to discuss small business priorities with the new SBA administrator and commerce secretary,” Buttle said.

Updated 4:54 p.m.