The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have partnered to present a regional series entitled “Path to Prosperity Regional Series US Virgin Islands.” This hybrid event will include three panel discussions comprised of lending and economic development experts. Facilitated conversations will focus on identifying challenges and sharing best practices and innovative solutions to accessing capital. Presenters will share how financial institutions, non-profits, and community-based organizations can encourage the development of a “Path to Prosperity” by incentivizing unbanked and underbanked small businesses to establish sustainable relationships with insured financial institutions. The event will also include lender match-making sessions for small business owners across the territory. The event will further help to expand bank referrals of small businesses for technical assistance from business development organizations.
Presenters:
- Marlene Cintrón, Atlantic Region Administrator Region II, SBA
- Josué E. Rivera-Castro, Director, Puerto Rico District Office, SBA
- Wayne Biggs Jr., CEO, US Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority
- Kimme R. Bryce, Area Director, Area VII US Virgin Islands Rural Development, USDA
- Luis Cruz-Arroyo, Caribbean Area Director, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
- Ronald J. Spencer, Senior Advisor, Office of Field Operations, USDA
- Jacqueline Davis-Slay, Senior Advisor, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, USDA
- Terri Billups, Deputy Director, Office of Rural Affairs, SBA
- C. Wayne Huddleston, Senior Area Manager, US Virgin Islands, SBA
- Leonardo San Roman, Acting Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Transportation
- Karen Jones, Associate State Director, Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center, University of the Virgin Islands
- Steve Clayton, Director, US Virgin Islands, SCORE
- Monica Copeland, Director, MDI Network, Inclusiv
- Ron Kelly, Outreach Lead, State Small Business Credit Initiative, U.S. Department of Treasury
- Kandice Brown, Strategic Alliance Specialist, Minority Business Development Agency
- David D. Rixter, CEO and Co-Founder, MSTRETX
- Rosa Uriarte, Director, Enterprise Center – Puerto Rico, PathStone
- Rosa Thomas, Assistant CEO, US Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority
- George Sears, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, USDA
- Frank Dixon, Director, Virgin Islands Procurement Technical Assistance Center
- Jezabel Rodríguez, Procurement Center Representative, Office of Government Contracting, Area I, SBA
- Akeel St. Jean, President, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, US Virgin Islands
- David Ramos, Senior Community Affairs Specialist, FDIC
- Sandra M. Hernandez, Senior Community Affairs Specialist, FDIC
- Alexis Luna, Community Affairs Specialist, FDIC
Who should attend:
Financial institutions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), government, trade groups, local entrepreneurs, and small businesses, along with community- and faith-based organizations who are interested in partnership and resource opportunities to support small businesses all across the US Virgin Islands.
Registration Information:
To register online, click Register and fill out the needed information. You will receive a confirmation email once completed.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about the event, please email Alexis Luna at aluna@fdic.gov.