On October 1, Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed of the U.S. Small Business Administration visited Boise, Idaho. His visit aimed to understand the local business environment and engage with entrepreneurs during Boise Entrepreneur Week.

Syed's itinerary began at Boise State University, where he toured studio/Blu. This consortium brings together universities, tech associations, and manufacturing sectors to collaborate on business development stages from concept to launch.

He then joined two roundtable discussions. The first involved small business owners from the Boise area, focusing on technology-driven entrepreneurship. They talked about their successes and challenges and discussed the SBA's role in fostering innovation among small businesses.

The second roundtable delved into the broader business ecosystem of Boise. Syed and participants examined ways to enhance support for underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Concluding his visit, Syed participated in a fireside chat with Tom Kealey, Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, during Boise Entrepreneur Week. Their conversation covered public policy's role in entrepreneurship and initiatives to aid economic development and innovation across the United States.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, there has been a significant increase in new small business applications nationwide, totaling 19.4 million since President Biden took office. Idaho alone has contributed over 107,000 new applications during this period.

For media inquiries or interview requests with Deputy Administrator Syed, contact Theodora.Lake@sba.gov.