FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org

IFA APPLAUDS SENATE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CMTE ON CONFIRMATION FOR MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014—The International Franchise Association President & CEO Steve Caldeira released the following statement today after the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee passed Maria Contreras-Sweet’s nomination to lead the Small Business Administration.

“We are extremely pleased that the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee has passed Maria Contreras-Sweet’s nomination. We urge the Senate to move as quickly as possible to do the same to ensure that the SBA has a leader in place to administer the critically important SBA Loan programs that are so vital for small business ownership, expansion and job creation.

“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. The IFA looks forward to a swift confirmation for Maria Contreras-Sweet.”

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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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Phone: +1 202/628-8000 Fax: +1 202/628-0812 www.franchise.org