FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org

IFA APPLAUDS SENATE CONFIRMATION OF MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET TO LEAD SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2014—The International Franchise Association’s President & CEO Steve Caldeira released the following statement today after the Senate confirmed Maria Contreras-Sweet’s nomination to lead the Small Business Administration.

“We applaud the Senate for confirming Maria Contreras-Sweet’s nomination and look forward to working together to ensure the voice of the small business community is heard within the administration and to ensure credit access, which is the lifeblood of franchise small business growth and development, remains strong. The SBA has a great leader in place to administer the critically important SBA 7a and 504 loan programs that are so vital for franchise businesses.

“Maria Contreras-Sweet’s impressive background in the public and private sector will ensure the administration fills the long-standing void left by former Administrator Karen Mills, who was a strong champion for the small business community and the franchise industry on a multitude of public policy issues.”

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About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

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