Maria Contreras-Sweet
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Investing With Impact in Underserved Small Businesses
Aron Betru, Maria Contreras-Sweet, Kimberlee Cornett, Annie Donovan, John Lettieri, Kim Saunders, Aaron Better
Experts at a panel discussion analyzed the stark racial wealth gaps and the critical role of Community Development Financial Institutions in filling banking deserts left by post-2008 regulations. The dialogue highlighted policy mechanisms like Opportunity Zones and SBA loan guarantees while warning that deregulation or a shift toward real estate over small business investment could jeopardize capital for underserved demographics. Ultimately, the speakers framed the successful mobilization of capital for these communities as essential to preventing economic stagnation and maintaining U.S. global competitiveness against international rivals.
- Milken Institute55 min
2016 CA Summit - Enhancing California's Role as a Global Crossroads for Trade and Investment
Michael Klowden, Kevin Klowden, Caroline Brown, Maria Contreras-Sweet, Fred Hochberg, James Villeneuve
A comprehensive overview of California's trade landscape highlights the state's status as a global economic powerhouse where over 40% of U.S. container goods pass, while federal programs like the SBA's STEP and Ex-Im Bank guarantees drive small business export growth with a $17 ROI per dollar invested. The event further details how targeted strategies leveraging immigrant communities and veterans, alongside technical assistance from institutions like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, mitigate financial and logistical risks for emerging exporters. By shifting focus toward clean technology and utilizing bilateral agreements to navigate evolving global dynamics, these initiatives aim to secure California's competitive edge against rivals like China and support the transition from domestic to global market strategies.
- Milken Institute57 min
U.S. Overview: Can the U.S. Engine Pull the Global Growth Train?
Ross Duvall, Eric Spiegel, Bill Simon, Sarah Quinlan, Jim Moffitt, Maria Contreras-Sweet
A recent panel highlighted the U.S. economy's strongest six-month growth in a decade, driven by private sector job recovery, record corporate cash reserves, and a competitive advantage in low natural gas prices. Speakers detailed how these macroeconomic factors are fueling a manufacturing renaissance and small business expansion, even as significant challenges regarding the skills gap, infrastructure deficits, and policy uncertainty regarding R&D tax credits persist. With GDP forecasts reaching 3.4% next year, experts emphasized that sustaining this momentum requires permanent policy stability and targeted workforce retraining to fully capitalize on the country's shift toward advanced, domestic production.