Last month, The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), celebrated seven decades of helping small businesses start, grow and succeed by honoring local small businesses with their Legacy Business recognition. Diana Lewis-Jackson, President and CEO, of Action Facilities Management received the recognition, at an invite only ceremony among family, friends and colleagues, on Monday, August 21, 2023 at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center. Among family, friends, and colleagues, Diana spoke on how SBA helped her start, grow and ultimately succeed.
The SBA was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 when he signed the landmark “Small Business Act,” which established the agency and made it a policy to support and protect the interests of small businesses. To highlight this milestone, SBA announced 68 Legacy Business recipients, with events honoring those businesses in multiple cities around the United States. Many Legacy Business recipients started small and leveraged SBA resources on their journey to becoming household names.
It was my honor to present this recognition to Diana Lewis-Jackson, the founder, president and CEO, of Action Facilities Management (AFM), located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Founded 2001, the minority-owned, woman-owned certified small business specializes in government and commercial facilities management. With more than 370 employees and 75 subcontractor companies, AFM supports clients in eight states and Washington, D.C. The firm provides a full spectrum of integrated facilities management, infrastructure and security support services with core competencies in facility operations, and maintenance, construction, administrative support services and emergency management.
Lewis-Jackson utilized SBA’s programs and services, including the 8(a) Business Development program, WV SBA government contracting training, and West Virginia Small Business Development Center counseling. Her list of SBA Small Business Week Awards is impressive, including honors at the district, regional, and national levels.
The SBA West Virginia District Office looks forward to continuing to assist small businesses in the Mountain State for the next 70 years.
