Colorado Small Business Owner to Join First Lady in State of the Union Address

It all started with a letter to the President

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Jan 19, 2015, 05:53 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A small business owner of seven restaurants across Colorado will be seated in the box Tuesday with the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address.

Carolyn Annette Reed wrote to President Obama about how she was able to expand her small business and open an additional Silver Mine Subs shop in Denver thanks to a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. In her note, she also mentioned that she looked forward to benefiting from the Affordable Care Act, and currently she and her husband, David, are enrolled in the Colorado state exchange.

Earlier this year in Denver, the President had dinner with Carolyn and other Coloradoans who wrote to him. The day after their meeting, Carolyn and her husband – inspired by the President's call and the story of another letter writer – announced that they would give their hourly employees a raise to $10.10. Carolyn and David now own seven Silver Mine Subs shops, and they are looking to continue their expansion. They have six children, four of whom work for their growing business.

"It was a relief to be able to secure the SBA loan to open our other stores," Reed wrote. "We are a perfect example of people who have benefitted from your efforts."

More details about Reed and other guests along with news about the State of the Union is available at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.

Contact: Miguel Ayala (202) 205-6420
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Release Number: 15-01

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration