[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  HONORING THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION'S FRESNO DISTRICT OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Small Business 
Administration's (SBA) Fresno District Office for their contributions 
and efforts in the community. The U.S. Small Business Administration is 
an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist 
and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free 
competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall 
economy of our nation.
  The Fresno District Office has been transformed into one of the most 
user-friendly vital economic development resources for the business 
community in the Central Valley. Over the past five years, the Fresno 
District Office has assisted over 3,893 businesses with loans totaling 
$1.1 billion. The Fresno District Office works by a simple motto: be 
visible, proactive and responsive to the business community and other 
resource partners.
  The Fresno District Office has had a presence in Fresno, California 
for over thirty years, working with and assisting local businesses. In 
2000, the Fresno District Office was the recipient of the Fresno Bee's 
prestigious ``Central California Excellence in Business Award'' for 
Finance/Banking/Insurance. The SBA Fresno District Office is the first 
Federal Agency to receive this award. This is a testament to the SBA's 
dedication to economic development and high standards of customer 
service.
  Although the SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was 
established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same: they 
help Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive 
network of field offices and partnerships with public and private 
organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the 
United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Fresno District Office of the Small 
Business Administration for their contributions to the economy of the 
California Central Valley. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing 
the Fresno District Office of the SBA many more years of continued 
success.

                          ____________________