Small Business Administration Regional Advocate Mike Vallante joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about small businesses.
Vallante was in the Florida Keys for the Southeastern Fisheries Association’s annual board meeting. He lives in Huntsville, Alabama, and covers the Southeast for the SBA’s Office of Advocacy.
His role is to hear directly from small-business owners about government regulations and other issues that make it more difficult to operate.
The SBA is best known for its lending programs, which help small businesses start, grow and recover from disasters. Vallante said the agency’s Office of Advocacy, established by Congress in 1976, focuses specifically on regulations and other forms of government red tape.
“My job is to go out and meet with small businesses and hear from them directly some of the things that government is doing or has done that causes them difficulties,” Vallante said.
Vallante said commercial fishermen face challenges from both regulations and foreign competition, noting that U.S. fishermen often operate under different rules than their foreign competitors.
He also raised concerns about the makeup of regional fishery management councils, saying some members may not have direct experience in the fishing industry.
“There are rules and regulations that were put in place that may have been well-meaning, that really sounded good at a desk in Washington, D.C., but don’t translate well with the real-life world that the fishermen face,” Vallante said.
Vallante said the federal government under President Donald Trump has placed a greater emphasis on American-produced goods, including seafood, and has taken steps to expand fishing opportunities and roll back some regulations.
He said the SBA’s Office of Advocacy is focused on gathering firsthand information from fishermen and other small-business owners and taking those concerns back to Washington.
“More importantly, listen to the fishermen here in their everyday struggles and see if there’s things that we can take back to the people in D.C.,” Vallante said.
Vallante also discussed regulatory concerns in the boating industry, including vessel-speed restrictions intended to protect whales. He said those restrictions can make it more difficult for boats to reach fishing areas efficiently while increasing fuel costs.
Another issue involves styrene, a chemical used in fiberglass products and other applications. Vallante said the Environmental Protection Agency placed styrene on a chemical watch list in December 2024, and he warned that additional regulation could have significant consequences for the boating industry, particularly in South Florida.
Vallante also highlighted the SBA’s Red Tape Hotline, which allows small-business owners to report regulatory problems directly to the agency.
The toll-free number is 800-827-5722, and messages can be left 24 hours a day. Business owners can also submit concerns through the SBA website. Vallante said officials generally respond within 48 to 72 hours.
He said the initiative is designed to accommodate small-business owners who may not have the time during a busy workday to formally document their concerns.
“We want to hear from businesses on a regular basis and at the time that is most convenient for them as well,” Vallante said.
Vallante said the SBA has also expanded lending opportunities and developed programs aimed at helping small businesses with issues such as cash flow. Reducing unnecessary paperwork and regulations can make a meaningful difference for small businesses because they typically have less financial cushion when problems arise.
“The fine line between success and failure for small businesses is very thin,” Vallante said. “Anything that we can do, and the Trump administration can do, to help make that a little bit better, a little bit bigger, we want to do.”
Vallante was also scheduled to participate in a “Moving Red Tape” roundtable in Miami, where small-business owners in the fishing, boating and manufacturing industries could discuss regulations affecting their businesses directly with SBA officials.
According to Vallante, the purpose of those meetings is straightforward: listen to business owners and identify specific problems that can be addressed at the federal level.
“There’s no substitute for that,” he said.