Jones returns to board
The Business Council of Westchester has turned to its former board chairman, attorney Stephen J. Jones, to replace the late Charles W. Brown in the chairman”™s seat.
Brown, co-founder and president of C.W. Brown Inc. in Armonk, died suddenly June 6 at his home in South Salem. The 57-year-old construction contractor had served as chairman of the Business Council board of directors since Jan. 1.
Jones is managing partner of Jones L.L.P. in Scarsdale. He will complete the first year of Brown”™s two-year term as chairman. The lawyer previously headed the Business Council board from 2007-2008.
“Steve”™s strengths as a committed, thoughtful business and community leader raised the Business Council to new levels during his tenure as chairman and I look forward to working with him again in that capacity,” said Business Council President and CEO Marsha Gordon
Chase a leader in SBA lenders
Chase bank led the nation and New York in the number of federally guaranteed loans made to small businesses in the first half of 2011, the bank”™s parent company, JPMorgan Chase & Co., recently announced.
Chase this year doubled its nationwide lending through the U.S. Small Business Administration, providing $448 million and 2,373 loans in the last six months. The bank in 2010 provided $434 million to small businesses, a 217 percent increase in SBA program lending from the previous year.
In New York, Chase through June led SBA lenders with 339 approved loans and was second in total amount loaned at $51.1 million.
Chase earlier this year committed to increase lending by 20 percent to businesses with annual sales of less than $20 million. Through Aug. 31, the bank will waive the SBA guarantee fee for up to $10,000 on new SBA business loans and lines of credit.
