Karen Mills faced double duty

Karen Mills faced double duty when she started work April 6 as the Small Business Administration’s new administrator: She not only had to supervise the agency’s traditional programs but also had to implement new initiatives created by Congress in the economic stimulus bill. The former venture capitalist sat down with Washington Bureau Chief Kent Hoover to talk about the SBA’s role in America’s economic recovery. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation: You’ve been on the job for five weeks. What has struck you most about the SBA and the role of government in supporting small business? For me, this is one of the most exciting places to be in any administration, but in this administration everybody knows this is the most important place to be. I’ve really thought of this as three major priorities: The first is to get the Recovery Act implemented — get the money in the hands of small businesses. At this moment, when we have this much economic distress, this is “making a difference” money. And it’s already out, and we’re seeing businesses where it’s made a difference. The second priority is to reinvigorate the agency. This is an agency that in the past administration had budget reductions, had its personnel go from 3,000 to 2,000. But in fact, this is a jewel. It has an infrastructure ... that goes out to every state, all kinds of geographic areas. We have over 14,000 affiliated counselors. We have the ability to be at any disaster anywhere in the country. We are the on-the-ground people who have programs that touch all kinds of small businesses.

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