The U.S. Small Business Administration has named 15 members to its new Council on Underserved Communities, including a Kansas credit union representative.
LeeAnn Marker, business adviser to $169 million Hutchinson Credit Union in Hutchinson, Kan., has been appointed to the council. A commercial lender, Marker is also a small business owner.
The CUC will provide input, advice and recommendations on strategies to help strengthen competitiveness and sustainability for small businesses in underserved communities, the SBA said.
These strategies will focus on increasing entrepreneurship and technical assistance, creating new and strengthening existing outreach and training, and raising awareness in underserved communities of SBA programs and services, according to the agency.
Prior to its first meeting in July in Washington, CUC members will hold listening sessions in their regions to hear from small business owners and members of the community about what they need from the SBA.
