SBA tries to remain strong ally in tough times

The Bush administration and others have praised small business as the engine of American job creation, but small-company owners are being squeezed by the shaky economy and rising health costs.

Their chief advocate, the Small Business Administration, has been criticized as ineffective by Democrats in Congress, by women who own businesses and by other advocacy groups. Its budget has also fallen by a third since 2000. But the agency is trying to revitalize itself under the leadership of Steven Preston, who took over in July 2006.

Preston, the former executive vice president of ServiceMaster, outlined steps the agency is taking to aid small businesses.

By ELIZABETH OLSON
THE NEW YORK TIMES

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