This week, crews at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore opened two alternate channels to allow small commercial and essential ships through the Patapsco River. The port, an important trade hub, had been closed since the bridge collapsed on March 26. Small business owners in the area have expressed concern about the economic impact of the partially closed port for their local businesses. The Small Business Administration has opened a low-interest disaster loan program for small businesses, which hundreds of business have already applied for. The city of Baltimore also opened SBA Business Recovery Centers to help those business owners apply for loans.
Ayman El Tarabishy is the deputy chair of the Department of Management and a teaching professor of management at the George Washington University School of Business. His expertise involves entrepreneurship and creative, innovative, humane-focused practices. In addition, Dr. El Tarabishy is the president & CEO of the International Council for Small Business, the oldest and largest non-profit organization devoted to advancing small business research and practices.
El Tarabishy played a central role in creating and promoting the United Nations Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day every year on June 27. Recognized by the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, this Name Day is designated on specific dates to mark particular events or topics to consciously and actively promote the organization's objectives.
El Tarabishy can discuss the impact of the port's full closure on small businesses in Baltimore that rely on the port and the opportunity for reconstruction.
If you want to speak with Prof. El Tarabishy, please contact GW Senior Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at cdouglass
gwu [dot] edu (cdouglass[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-
