The United States Small Business Administration: Celebrating 70 Years of Supporting Entrepreneurs

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is commemorating its 70th anniversary as a critical resource for entrepreneurs who are starting and expanding small businesses. An upcoming anniversary celebration at Humtown Products in Leetonia, Ohio will recognize the company’s achievements and honor them with a Legacy Business trophy.

Humtown Products, owned by Mark Lamoncha and his son Brandon Lamoncha, serves as a prime example of the SBA’s impact. In 2016, the company faced challenges due to excessive regulations and foreign competition, a common predicament for American foundries. However, with assistance from the SBA, Humtown reinvented itself and emerged as one of the most successful small businesses in the Mahoning Valley and beyond.

Much to its credit, Humtown did not succumb to disruptive technology but rather pioneered it. The company became a world leader in additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, which revolutionized the foundry industry. In recognition of Humtown’s achievements, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) conferred upon them the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year award in 2020.

The renowned panel of judges for NAM highlighted Humtown’s exceptional utilization and commercialization of 3D printing technology, which played a pivotal role in transforming the industry for foundries. It is worth exploring the intricacies of this technology later on.

Now, let us focus on the invaluable role played by the SBA and why Humtown is a deserving host for the 70th anniversary celebration.

The Engines of Our Economy: The Significance of Small Businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, with over 30 million of them operating in the United States. They contribute to more than half of the workforce and actively shape our local communities. Small businesses act as the foundation for the local tax base and are catalysts for philanthropy and charitable giving.

Humtown embodies all these qualities and more.

The Lamoncha family behind Humtown demonstrates an exceptional level of generosity. Whenever the local community faces challenges, they rise to the occasion, providing financial support to successful non-profits and setting high standards for philanthropy.

Furthermore, the Lamonchas actively dedicate their time to various civic engagements. Mark Lamoncha serves on the Ohio Board of Education, the Columbiana Chamber of Commerce, and the Youngstown/Warren Chamber of Commerce. The couple is frequently seen participating in critical community gatherings throughout the Mahoning Valley.

In addition to their selflessness, the Lamoncha family exemplifies courage and care. When their company fell victim to a cyber attack, they eschewed keeping the incident internal and instead turned it into an opportunity to educate other small businesses on safeguarding themselves against such threats.

Meanwhile, Humtown continues to redefine global manufacturing. This brings us back to the technical aspect of their operations.

Humtown’s Revolutionary Approach to Manufacturing

Humtown specializes in the production of sand cores and molds, supplying them to foundries worldwide. These foundries subsequently utilize the cores and molds to manufacture various parts and equipment for industries such as agriculture, construction, mining, national defense, public utilities, and transportation.

The conventional metal casting process typically involves creating a tool or pattern to produce the sand cores and molds. However, Humtown has harnessed the power of 3D printing technology to bypass the tooling stage. Through software commands, they can directly print the sand cores and molds, eliminating the need for any physical tooling.

By pioneering toolless 3D printing in the sand core and mold manufacturing domain, Humtown has expanded its market reach and disrupted one of the world’s oldest industries. Such innovation earned the company yet another coveted recognition from NAM – the High Achiever award in the Engineering and Production Technology Leadership category. This accolade puts Humtown in the same league as industry giants such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Merck & Co., and Siemens Energy.

The SBA celebration on August 24th is a fitting tribute to Humtown’s remarkable journey. Distinguished guests, including U.S. presidential appointee Victor Parker, SBA Cleveland District Director Dr. John Turner, Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Patricia Veisz, and numerous elected officials and community leaders, will attend the event.

Humtown serves as undeniable proof of the SBA’s effectiveness and the resilience of small businesses.

Guy Coviello, President & CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, contributed to this article.