Online Update: President Chooses New SBA Head President Bush has nominated a Commerce Department official, Santanu “Sandy” Baruah, to head the Small Business Administration. Baruah (pronounced “Bah-roo-ah”) is currently assistant secretary of Commerce and head of the Economic Development Administration. EDA provided $277 million in grants for development projects last year. Baruah has served in a variety of positions in the Bush administration since 2001. He was previously a business consultant in Portland, OR. If confirmed by the Senate, he would succeed Steven Preston, who resigned to become secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Senate Small Business Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-MA, said his committee will “review Sandy Baruah's record carefully to make sure that he is the right person for the job."