New Kensington’s Sweet Tillies, one of 15 companies to participate in the Small Business Week Summit

The owner of a new Kensington business will appear Wednesday at the conclusion of the three-day virtual summit of the National Small Business Administration’s U.S. Small Business Week.

Amy Johnson owns Sweet Tillies, a baklava bakery that sits among several small new businesses that have opened in the city center.

Johnson said his business was one of 15 countries chosen to be presented during the summit, which began Monday. He recorded a video talking about his story and how the SBA was useful to him. He said it is scheduled to air from 4:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Johnson, a native of New Kensington, and her husband Carl, a veteran of the Air Force, returned to New Kensington in 2001. She opened Sweet Tillies in December in a building on Fifth Avenue owned by Olde Towne Overhaul.

Johnson said he knew an SBA employee who believed his story was good for the resilience issue at the summit: he quit his corporate job and opened a start-up business during the pandemic in a city trying to revitalize. se.

“I had no idea how much support and resources there was in the SBA and my local district office until I met an SBA employee who introduced me,” Johnson said. “They offer training and education, online training, loan programs, mentors and even opportunities to sell your products or services to the federal government. They even have a “Boots to Business” program that provides veterans and their spouses with business education and training programs. ”

President Biden signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 12-18.

According to the SBA, the summit highlights the resilience of the nation’s entrepreneurs and the renewal of the small business economy as they rebuild from the economic crisis caused by the coveted pandemic.

Among the celebrities were Mark Cuban, a native of Pittsburgh, and Jennifer Lopez.

To watch his video, Johnson said people will need to register on the SBA website, sba.gov, for the summit. Registration is free.

Johnson said she is renewing her business plan for Sweet Tillies and has asked the SBA for a mentor to help her review and examine the plan and help with business development and growth strategies.

“I just started my connection with the SBA and they have been wonderful working with them. There are even more resources along the way that I hope to use, ”he said. “I’m grateful to be connected now, as I’m learning with Sweet Tillies, but most of all grateful that when I get to challenges (which I will), I won’t feel like I have to face them alone and I can easily contact my local office SBA for help and guidance “.