Annual Meeting keynote address: SBA tools businesses can leverage right now
At the Quad Cities Chamber’s 2025 Annual Meeting, we had the distinct honor of hearing from Lisa Shimkat, Associate Administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Field Operations — and currently also serving as Acting Associate Administrator for Manufacturing and Trade. Her keynote was a powerful reminder that building strong, resilient businesses is not just about growth — it’s about continuity, community and planning for the future.
“Have you ever created a plan that didn’t go the way you envisioned?” Shimkat asked. “It happens every day. That’s why we need to start these conversations now, because when a business closes, the loss goes far beyond the storefront.”
Shimkat’s message struck a chord: when a business is lost, it causes a ripple in a community. It’s more than a shuttered building —it’s a job lost, a sponsor gone, a local supplier or mentor that’s no longer there. That’s why the SBA is focused on giving business owners — and future owners — the tools they need to not only grow, but to transition and sustain their businesses for generations.
Tools from the SBA you can use today
Shimkat outlined a robust toolkit the Small Business Administration is offering to support businesses at every stage of growth, transition and innovation. Here’s what’s available now —resources that the Chamber and its members can plug into immediately:
- Red Tape Hotline / Call or email at (800) 827-5722, [email protected]
- Are regulations or processes slowing you down? Report them. Every submission is tracked and reviewed. Shimkat even offered to personally walk businesses through how the SBA addresses these concerns.
- Onshoring Portal
- A matchmaking platform that connects small manufacturers with U.S.-based suppliers, helping reduce reliance on overseas parts and strengthen domestic supply chains.
- Onshoring Handbook
- Think of it as a how-to guide for bringing operations back to the U.S. — complete with step-by-step instructions and resources.
- Office of Advocacy
- The SBA’s watchdog arm reviews and challenges burdensome regulations. They write comment letters, testify and conduct studies that help protect small business interests.
- National Ombudsman / Call or email at (888) REG-FAIR , [email protected]
- If you’re being unfairly treated by a federal agency, this office steps in.
- Local SBA Field Offices
- The boots on the ground, ready to connect you with capital, counseling and federal contracting opportunities — right here in our region.
"Finally, never forget—while policy helps and partnerships matter, it is your grit, your ingenuity and your Midwestern strength that drive real change," said Shimkat.
