Big Changes for Small Businesses

Michael T. Kane, the new Deputy Director of Eastern PA Small Business Administration Office. Photo Courtesy / East Stroudsburg University
Michael T. Kane, the new Deputy Director of Eastern PA Small Business Administration Office. Photo Courtesy / East Stroudsburg University
Michael T. Kane, the new Deputy Director of
Eastern PA Small Business Administration Office.
Photo Courtesy / East Stroudsburg University

By Eric Kump
Assistant News Editor

On February 5, Michael T. Kane was elected as deputy director for the United States Small Business Administration’s Eastern Pennsylvania District Office, which is responsible for forty eastern counties in Pennsylvania.

Their main goal is to supply funding for small businesses and provide assistance when funding in inadequate.

“I’m very excited to take on this challenge and I look forward to doing great things for small businesses all across eastern Pennsylvania,” Kane said.

He continued, “Our District Office has a strong history of accomplishment in support of the businesses we serve, and I look forward to continuing that tradition.”

In 2007, Kane had joined the Small Businesses Administration by becoming the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) project officer. In this position, he oversaw and reviewed the SBDC Network throughout Pennsylvania.

Before taking his current role, Kane was the Small Business Administration’s branch manager in Harrisburg. He also acted as an economic development specialist for the Lehigh Valley region. During his time in this position he was also program manager for the Emerging Leaders Initiative.

The Emerging Leaders Initiative is a successful training program for urban businesses in Philadelphia, as well as throughout the nation. According to the Small Business Administration’s website, the Emerging Leaders Initiative has aided over two thousand small businesses and led to more employees with over twenty million dollars in financing.

“The intention of the Emerging Leaders Initiative is to accelerate the growth of highpotential small businesses in America’s underserved cities,” states the website. The training program has been designed for current business owners, and not start-ups with a dream to make a business.

Kane has also worked as an analyst for the Department of Defense’s Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation, and he has held positions as a sales representative for Alltel Telecommunications and a rental branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Kane’s degrees include a Master of Science in management and leadership – public administration from East Stroudsburg University, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Monmouth University.

“His experience and leadership will serve him well in his new role as he continues to be a great asset to our team and more importantly to our small business community,” said Small Business Administration’s Eastern Pennsylvania Director Tony Leta.

Email Eric at:
ekump@live.esu.edu