12.2 million new small business applications nationwide, 84% higher than any other period on record. 26,000 filed in Rhode island alone. Over $4 billion in relief funds given out.

This was the evidence of a “small business boom,” U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman put forward on Monday afternoon while standing on the sidewalk in front of Lou Umberto’s Italian Kitchen in Cranston.

Before speaking to press, Administrator Guzman and a small group including Congressman Seth Magaziner and Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, sat with owner Lou Umberto at a small table inside his restaurant, flanked by shelves of marinara and vodka sauce, American tuna, Italian tuna and the bustle of a restaurant that was operating around the visit. According the Guzman, during the sit-down the group heard “a little about how Lou started his business,” which opened in 2017, as well as Umberto’s hopes for the future and how the SBA can tailor programs to make sure he gets the funding he needs and the technical assistance and network support and local government support as well.

 Administrator Guzman described visits like the one to Lou Umberto’s restaurant as an important effort to “see what’s happening on the ground.” At the same time, Guzman is part of the Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” tour, which has cabinet and senior administration officials fanning out in similar visits across the country as the 2024 election draws closer.

Given this context, it was no surprise to hear Guzman talk of “the fastest economic recovery and quickest control of inflationary pressures.” Guzman also quoted a key Biden Administration maxim of “building the economy middle out and bottom up,” as well as speaking of the opportunities afforded by the “invest in America agenda” which was, of course, the title of the tour.

Administrator Guzman is only the most recent in a series of visits this summer by administration officials, such as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Congressman Magaziner noted that “in the last month we’ve had more cabinet-level officials visit our state than any of us can remember in a long time.” Magaziner said that these visits are indicative of “an administration that is now paying attention to Rhode Island.”

Along with Guzman and Magaziner, Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins rounded out the assembling of all three levels of government. Hopkins highlighted small business growth in Cranston, specifically noting the “Take it Outside” grant initiative, which will give out a total of $100,000 in state funding to Cranston businesses expanding outdoor operations such as sidewalk dining. Hopkins said that with these new improvements, Knightsville “will be the center of our city for the next 50 years.”

While Guzman, Magaziner, and Hopkins’ remarks drew one friendly comment from a supporter of Magaziner who walked past and recognized the congressman, life elsewhere on the street was just like any other Monday afternoon. One customer inside Lou Umberto’s restaurant took a brief moment in between bites of pizza to snap a photo of the officials before returning to eating and reading a book.

Local business owners nearby were not aware of the visit, including at the Knightsville Service Center two blocks down the street from Lou Umberto’s. “I guess it’s alright” owner Chris DelBonis said of the SBA. “During COVID they helped me out a little bit with grant money and payroll protection.” DelBonis described himself as “a little confused about what [the visiting Administrator] would be promoting” given that SBA CARES Act funds were passed under the previous administration and a different SBA Administrator. “If they’re coming from the Biden Administration and then they’re talking about stuff from COVID, well that’s a different administration.”

Guzman’s visit continued on later in the day to two other Cranston small businesses, Spark Bridal Outlet and DiFruscia Industries.