Dyersburg, TN - August 27, 2025 - National and Regional representatives with the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] partnered with The Mill Workspace to host the Cutting the Red Tape Small Business Roundtable, where small business owners, government officials and network partners discussed the challenges faced in the manufacturing, restaurant, and service sectors. Topics ranged from tariffs to childcare shortages.
The roundtable was open to the public and took place from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at The Mill and was led by Michael Vallante, SBA Regional Advocate for the Southeast, based in Huntsville, AL. Vallante is making stops across the region to gather input directly from business owners in Northwest Tennessee to help guide his advocacy work on a federal level. He was joined by SBA District Director David Glasgow, National Rural Advocate Joe Knilans, and Outreach/Marketing and Veterans Business Development Specialist David Walley.
The Mill welcomed small business owners, resource partners, and government representatives—including those in the manufacturing sector—to share real experiences and help identify actionable solutions.
A key issue brought to surface was the need for more transparency throughout the SBA loan process. Additional conversations centered around the amount of tariffs paid on equipment brought in from oversees to produce products made in the United States.
Following the discussion, representatives of the SBA, state officials and members of The Mill Workspace participated in site visits to local businesses including Green Frog Coffee Co. and Omni-Tech Manufacturing, taking a closer look at regulatory issues hindering small business.
For more information on the SBA, visit the Small Business Administration.
About The Mill Workspace: The Mill Workspace, a DBA of Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneurship, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 entrepreneur center located in Dyersburg, TN and focused on serving entrepreneurs in the nine counties of Northwest Tennessee. They help businesses through one-on-one counseling, workshops, and multi-week programs all designed to help businesses in the region start up and grow.
Programs at The Mill are funded in part by a grant from LaunchTN.
