SBA Welcomes Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah

Sandy K. Baruah is Sworn In as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Santanu "Sandy" K. Baruah Biography

WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to President George W. Bush naming Sandy K. Baruah to be the U.S. Small Business Administration's Acting Administrator, today the agency welcomed Baruah and prepared for his arrival. Baruah, who is pending Senate confirmation as SBA Administrator, is Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the Department of Commerce,

and comes to SBA with deep experience in promoting local business growth, managing organizational change, and responding to federal disasters. He has worked for small businesses, helped small businesses grow, and was raised by a mother who ran her own small business.

Baruah helped lead significant accomplishments for the Economic Development Administration, including the agency's induction into the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame, passage of EDA's Congressional reauthorization, the agency's inclusion in President Bush's Executive Order which established the Preserve America Initiative, and achieved the second-highest effectiveness ranking from the White House's Office Management and Budget.

Baruah was nominated June 26, 2008.

"I'm honored to be named SBA's Acting Administrator by the President," Baruah said. "I look forward to working with Deputy Administrator Jovita Carranza, who has ably carried on the agency's work with SBA's great team of professional staff. I intend to help SBA carry on its mission as it navigates the height of hurricane season and deals with the current economic challenges and tightening credit opportunities for small business."

"I'm also committed to continuing former SBA Administrator Steve Preston's reform agenda and seeing its improvements through," Baruah added. "SBA's customers and employees deserve an agency that is efficient, effective and customer friendly in fulfilling its important mission."

"I look forward to working with members of Congress and welcome the opportunity to work in a collaborative and bipartisan manner to bring meaningful help to small business," Baruah concluded.

SBA Deputy Administrator Carranza welcomed Baruah. "We're very pleased to have a leader of Sandy's caliber joining our team and look forward to working with him. There's a great deal we still want to accomplish between now and January."

Baruah will start at SBA Monday morning. ###

Release Date: August 15, 2008 Contact: Christine Mangi (202) 205-6948 Release No: 08-78 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news/

Tags: Santanu "Sandy" K. Baruah and Small Business Administration