“We’re here to support small business," Emhoff said. "We’re here to support Houston.” 

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Since the pandemic brought the economy to its knees in 2020, Guzman said, there have been more than 10 million applications for new businesses, including almost a half-million in Texas. 

“The SBA is all about the American dream of business ownership, helping businesses like Pronto grow and access our lending products so that they can buy their buildings, buy equipment and make sure that they’re employing people,” Guzman said. 

Kukoyi explained that as her business grew, she first rented 30,000-square-feet of warehouse space. But she knew that ultimately she wanted to buy, because the $20,000 monthly lease payment meant that while she made payroll, she occasionally ate bologna sandwiches for dinner while worrying about rent increases. 

But getting financing to buy her own space, she said, had been a challenge. 

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“I went to Chase. I went to Bank of America. I was telling them, ‘Hey, I’m paying a lot of money in rent. Can you help me? I found a location,’” she recalled. “And they just — to be honest with you — they didn’t even pay me any attention.”

She found a warmer reception when she reached out to Houston Business Development, a nonprofit that provides lower-interest loans and connects entrepreneurs with support services. Eventually, Kukoyi said, a loan from the SBA had made it possible to buy the new facility for about $2 million. 

“I’ll have land, square footage, a warehouse. I can continue to grow and thrive,” Kukoyi said, adding: “Without the SBA, I’m 100 percent sure it wouldn’t have happened.”