YAKIMA, Wash. – Calvin Goings, assistant associate administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will meet with Yakima small business owners, city leaders and the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Jan. 14, to discuss how the SBA can further assist small businesses in south central Washington.
Goings will be available to meet with the media at 10:50 a.m. during a visit to Nate Sabari Woodworks at 302 S. First Street, Yakima.
Formerly known as The Pine Shop, this second-generation family business was hit hard by the recession in 2009. After nearly three decades of crafting quality wood products, the Sabaris considered closing.
Instead, with the help of Linda Johnson, an advisor with the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC), they were able to re-imagine what they did and how they did it. As Sabari Woodworks, they’ve attracted a new clientele and business is thriving again.
Goings also will meet with two other Yakima business owners: Ben Winters, owner of Washington Vision Therapy on Creekside Loop, and Geoff Knautz, owner of the Yakima Auto Spa on S. 72nd Avenue.
Goings’ itinerary includes speaking to the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center, an afternoon meeting with Yakima City Manager Tony O’Rourke, and a 3:15 p.m. guest appearance on the Mike Bastinelli radio program at AM 1280 KIT.
Goings is regional administrator for the SBA in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho. During his tenure in the Northwest, he has promoted nearly $2 billion in SBA loans and facilitated awarding of more than $9 billion in federal procurement contracts.
Johnson has been director of the SBDC office in Yakima since 2006. In 2012, she met one-to-one with more than 85 clients on an ongoing basis to help them start, grow or transition their businesses. Johnson’s clients reported that SBDC advising helped them start three new businesses, create or save 42 jobs and invest or borrow $1.2 million.
The Washington SBDC receives support from the SBA, Washington State University and other institutions of higher education and economic development. For more information about the SBDC, go to http://www.wsbdc.org
Contact:
Linda Johnson, linda.johnson@wsbdc.org, 509-454-7612