May 06, 2016

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Welcomes SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to Celebrate National Small Business Week

Oakland, CA – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee welcomed the SBA Administrator to the East Bay in celebration of National Small Business Week. She released the following statement:

“I am honored to welcome SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to the East Bay as we celebrate National Small Business Week. This week acknowledges small businesses as the true engine of our local economy. I applaud Administrator Contreras-Sweet for her remarkable work in supporting small businesses and expanding small business opportunities for traditionally underserved communities.

Oakland is driving innovation in diverse sectors, from clean energy and technology to arts and food services. The diversity of our small businesses contributes to the East Bay’s economic success and the cultural fabric of our community.  

There are more than 28,000,000 small businesses in the US and these businesses employ nearly half of our nation’s workforce. The impact of small businesses on our economy, our communities and our future is undisputable.  We must support small business owners with the critical assets to grow and empower our communities and our nation while working to expand business development opportunities to all, especially women and minority-owned businesses.”

During the Administrator’s visit to the East Bay, she, Congresswoman Lee and Mayor Libby Schaaf toured Revolution Foods.

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.