Expand with Confidence: SBA Financing for Growing Companies presented by Jamilah Ward, U.S. Small Business Administration.

Jamilah Ward is the Outreach & Marketing Specialist at U.S. Small Business Administration. She promotes the resources and services that SBA has while connecting and generating new partnerships.

Prior to joining SBA, she had a 10-year Economic Development background working for a local Economic Development Corporation (EDC) where her primary focus was business retention, attraction, and expansion with a specialized industry sector & working with minorities in entrepreneurship. She was very instrumental in creating Kansas City EDC’s 1st Tech Accelerator Program called KCUP, which catered to minorities in Tech, and opened an 2nd location KCUP/EDC x OHUB Space on 18th & Vine Street, which pretty much opened doors to “Shark Tank” auditions being held here in Kansas City.

In addition, Jamilah served as a liaison between City departments, businesses, and the development community. She provided financial resources and informational assistance, workforce resources, customized research services and more to ensure the City’s strategic economic development and quality job choice for our residents. She worked closely with commercial developers, business owners, real estate brokers and site selectors to navigate the legislative process related to development and incentives.