FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Janel Knight Trulear

janel@emccommunications.com

617-875-6581

Small business group applauds efforts to support Black-owned small businesses 

Statement by Small Business for America’s Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome on Vice President Kamala Harris’s participation in a small business panel at ESSENCE Festival of Culture

New Orleans, June 29, 2023–On the same day that the Supreme Court rolled back decades worth of progress in the fight for equality, it was great to hear Vice President Kamala Harris reject the decision and talk about the Biden Administration’s commitment to diversity in schools and in business.

Now more than ever we need this type of outspoken leadership as the policies and programs designed to address disparities in our country are threatened. Small business owners of color need the support. A record 10.4 million small businesses have been created since 2021. An increasing number of them are Black owned. They’ll need support in order to survive the obstacles of entrepreneurship, especially in the make-or-break initiative years of running a business. 

That support was shown when Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included a provision that made the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) permanent, a move that will help the agency grow their programs and outreach. The implementation of the law will also invest billions of dollars in communities around the country, providing new opportunities for small business owners.

This is a critical time as small business owners, especially those that are minority owned, struggle to access capital. The borrowing environment is challenging with high interest rates and traditional banks tightening their requirements. Investment in free resources for small businesses owners will help entrepreneurs navigate the current economic climate and boost our economy. 

Our hope is that lawmakers will put aside their differences and work together to pass more legislation like the Infrastructure Law that will help boost Main Street.

To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. 

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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.