NCAIED's Gary Davis appointed to SBA council

WASHINGTON – Gary Davis, President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (the National Center), has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Council on Underserved Communities (CUC). As an appointee, Mr. Davis will work alongside SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to provide counsel and best practices on how to effectively support small businesses in underserved communities across the country. Mr. Davis will also be responsible for reviewing current SBA programs and policies and making recommendations for how they can better serve the communities on which the CUC focuses. The two-year term begins immediately.

“I am deeply honored to work with fellow members of the Council on Underserved Communities and the SBA to advance small business in underserved communities,” said Davis. “The National Center has a long history of advocating for businesses, wealth, and sustainable communities throughout Indian Country. We believe in the Council on Underserved Communities’ mission and are proud to stand with the SBA to improve policies designed to enhance the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native families.”

Members of the CUC provide an essential connection between the SBA and small businesses in underserved inner city and rural communities. The Council’s scope of activities includes reviewing current SBA programs and policies, and working to create new and insightful place-based initiatives to spur economic growth, job creation, competitiveness, and sustainability.

The CUC appointment is the latest in a string of recent National Center engagements with key federal agencies. In April, Davis was part of the Minority Business Development Agency’s delegation to the Hannover Messe Trade Fair in Germany. Davis was also featured as a “Face of the New Economic Narrative” on a panel at the Economic Development Administration’s annual conference in Washington, DC. In addition, Davis serves as an ambassador in the Department of Energy’s Minorities in Energy (MIE) Initiative, where the National Center is a part of the program’s Industry Partner Engagement Network.

About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 40 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – we have evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation. Our motto is: “We Mean Business For Indian Country” as we are actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people- both now… and for generations to come.