Catherine Marx has been named the new district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Connecticut District Office.

“It is truly an exciting time to join SBA,” Marx said in a statement. “Our small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and need our support now, more than ever before.”

Rhode Island’s district director, Mark Hayward, had been Connecticut’s interim director.

“It has been an honor to serve the people of Connecticut,” Hayward said. “With Catherine, we have selected a new vibrant and aggressive leader who will promote and advocate for the interests of small businesses within the government.”

Marx comes to the SBA from the U.S. Census Bureau, where she was a partnership specialist for Connecticut, working with business associations, community organizations and state and local governments to develop and implement strategies to encourage participation in the 2020 Census.

Marx previously held various public positions, including district director in former Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration and at the municipal level as an elected official and public servant. Marx also has owned a small business and worked in corporate finance in the financial services industry.

“Catherine’s extensive experience in the public sector at the local, state and federal level make her a perfect leader to carry out the SBA mission during this critical time,” Wendell Davis, New England’s regional SBA administrator, said in a statement. “With her commitment to community and wide-ranging network of contacts, I expect Catherine to have an immediate impact on our outreach efforts in Connecticut.”