SBA South Carolina Introduces Michael A. Vallante as New Southeast Regional Advocate

(Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Small Business Administration)

 

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced the appointment of Michael A. Vallante as the new Southeast Regional Advocate for the SBA Office of Advocacy. In this role he is responsible for talking with businesses about the regulatory burdens they face, how those challenges can be addressed, and ensuring their information gets back to decision-makers in Washington, DC. The Office of Advocacy serves as the watchdog for America’s small businesses on regulatory issues. The office is tasked with reviewing all regulation changes and new regulations that come from every department of Federal Government to weigh what the impact of these regulations will have on small businesses. Additionally, the Office of Advocacy publishes research and information on our nation’s small businesses. Its annual publication, the 2025 Small Business State Profiles, was released this month and reflects the economic impact of small businesses for every state. As indicated in the attached profile for South Carolina, between March 2023 and March 2024 there was a net increase of 35,780 jobs, small businesses fueled approximately 71% of that growth. These small firms also make up 99.4% of all businesses and employs 42.9% of the workforce in South Carolina.Michael Vallante has over thirty years’ experience in business management, strategic communications, and public affairs consulting. As a small business owner in Rhode Island, California, and now Alabama, he understands the challenges facing small businesses.

 

In the previous Trump Administration, Mike served as the Associate Administrator of the Office of Field Operations for the SBA and served as Regional Administrator for the SBA in Region 9 (Pacific).

 

As a public relations professional, Mike has shaped public opinion and helped organizations survive crisis that could have been devastating for their future.

 

A Rhode Island native, Mike most recently lived for 25 years in Pasadena, California. He and his wife Julie and their dog Brady now make their home in Huntsville, Alabama.