STATEMENT

Contact

Conan Knoll
conan@emccommunications.com, (831) 524-6764

Jared Thompson
jared@smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org, (260) 797-2530

Small Business Group Joins Vice President Kamala Harris, SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman & Rep. Jason Crow for Conversation on Economic Recovery and the Build Back Better Plan

Today, members of Small Business for America’s Future Advisory Council joined Vice President Kamala Harris, SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman and Rep. Jason Crow on an SBA webinar on how to build an equitable economic recovery for small businesses

Washington, D.C., July 29, 2021—Today, small business owners from the Small Business for America’s Future Advisory Council joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Guzamn and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado for a webinar discussion about the state of the small business recovery, how to build a more equitable economy and how the Build Back Better Plan will support small business owners. The webinar was co-hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) as part of the “Getting Back on Track: Help is Here” webinar series.

Advisory Council members Tiara Flynn, president and CEO of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas, and Walt Rowen, president of Susquehanna Glass Co. in Columbia, Penn., joined the call to guide the conversation and ask questions. Tiara Flynn spoke to the struggle entrepreneurs of color have in accessing capital, how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helped their business get long-awaited capital support, and asked the Vice President what could be done to close the disparities in small business lending. Walt Rowen highlighted how important infrastructure investments are to small manufacturers, including investments in community infrastructure like child care and family supports, and asked the Vice President how the Biden-Harris Administration will make sure small business has a voice at the table in policy debates. The event also featured remarks from Vice President Harris, Administrator Guzman and Rep. Crow.

“I was honored to join Vice President Harris for this conversation on helping small businesses build back better,” said Flynn. “Small businesses across the country, particularly those within underserved communities, face significant challenges as we move toward recovery. We’re grateful the Biden-Harris administration has shown an incredible commitment to providing small businesses with the support they need to build an inclusive and equitable recovery for Main Street.”

The in-depth session focused on how to help small businesses as the country moves toward a post-pandemic economic recovery, with a particular focus on access to capital and ensuring that all business owners – especially those owned by women and people of color – can obtain the financing they need to grow.

“Small businesses can lead our post-pandemic recovery, but they can’t do it without support from policymakers,” said Rowen. “We’re grateful to have the Biden-Harris administration on our side and proactively having these conversations about how to build a stronger small business economy. By investing in the infrastructure we need, both through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Build Back Better Plan, we can build a stronger Main Street for years to come.”

The full recording of the webinar is available here.

To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future Advisory Council members Tiara Flynn or Walt Rowen contact Jared Thompson at (260) 797-2530 or jared@smallbusinessforamericasfuture.

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About Small Business for America’s Future
Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. #SmallBizAF.