Karen Mills

“Small businesses are really the engine in the economy.”

“Small businesses pay 18 percent more than big businesses for health care, the same health care, just because they're small and they have too small a pool of risk.”

“We were able in the Recovery Act to get a program where we increased our loan guarantees to 90 percent. Because we had that program, a bank wouldn't have to take that much risk.”

“Our economy creates and loses jobs every quarter in the millions. But of the net new jobs, the jobs come from small businesses: both small businesses on Main Street and many of the net new jobs come from high growth, high impact businesses that are located all across the country.”

“We really accomplished what we set out to do with the Recovery Act programs, which was to fill the lending gap created by the crisis.”

“We are not going to be the agency where large businesses can masquerade as a small business and get a contract. We are closing down on fraud, waste and abuse.”

“I grew up in a family business... that really has provided the core of my belief in American small business, and in America's ability to grow and operate important businesses that can compete and be successful.”

“We spend a great deal of our energy making sure that small businesses have help in navigating to the outcomes that they want.”

“Health care is the No. 1 concern of small businesses and the status quo is untenable.”

“Small businesses have told us that having cash in their pocket is one of the primary things that they need.”

“The 2009 stimulus law got the ball rolling, allowing the agency to reduce and eliminate fees and raise loan guarantees to 90 percent of the total. I knew that we had the opportunity to use S.B.A. products to fill that gap in a rapid manner, as we ended up doing in the Recovery Act.”

“I haven't checked this out yet, but one of our guys told me we have a counselor within 45 minutes to an hour of most small businesses in this country. That's really powerful. I call it our bone structure.”

“This has always been a small agency with a big mission. But these days, especially, we have to stand up every day, deliver value into the hands of small-business owners and get taxpayers the biggest bang for their buck so that we can help these job creators do what they need to do.”

“I think we've learned that the S.B.A. plays a critical role in providing access and opportunity when the market is not providing that access. We help banks get that money out into the hands of important and viable businesses, particularly those owned by minorities, women, immigrants and veterans.”

“Small businesses want things streamlined, and one of the great successes we're having is less paperwork, faster turnaround times.”

“After four years as Administrator of the SBA, I have let President Obama know that I will not be staying for a second term. I will stay on until my successor is confirmed to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.”

“We don't want to give a business that is not going to come through the troubled waters a loan that they can't pay back.”

“I saw the S.B.A. with just enormous potential, and that's what I told the president - this is really a jewel.”

“The S.B.A. does not lend directly to businesses, but instead backs loans to encourage banks to invest in small businesses as part of a nearly $90 billion portfolio.”

“If you want to have prosperity here, we really have to see our small businesses able to grow and compete around the world.”