From Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04)’s office:
McClellan Welcomes VP Harris to Richmond to Celebrate Small Business Week
Tours Babylon Micro-Farms, Richmond-Based Sustainable Indoor Farming Startup
Richmond, VA – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris to Richmond to celebrate National Small Business Week. Vice President Harris, Congresswoman McClellan, and Mayor Stoney toured Babylon Micro-Farms, a Richmond-based sustainable indoor farming startup that employs 35 Virginians and keeps all manufacturing local.
Following the tour, they highlighted important steps the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats have taken to strengthen small businesses and bolster domestic manufacturing.
“It was an honor to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to Richmond,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Small businesses, like Babylon Micro Farms, create new jobs, spur economic activity, and make our communities better. Despite this, small businesses, especially women- and minority-owned small businesses, face distinct challenges like a lack of access to capital and operational difficulties. The Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress are focused on solving these problems and providing them with the resources and support they need. At the same time, Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans threaten a catastrophic debt default that would devastate local small businesses. I look forward to continued collaboration with the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen our economy and support American small businesses.”
“America’s small businesses employ nearly half of all private sector workers in our country,” said Vice President Harris during the press conference. “Our small business owners are not only business leaders, but community leaders and civic leaders. Because of the investments we have made, because of the incredible determination of our nation’s entrepreneurs, America is seeing a small business boom. Since we took office, 10.5 million small business applications have been filed. When we invest in small businesses, we are all very clear, we are investing in jobs, in opportunity, and in innovation. When we invest in small businesses, we invest in America.”
For more than 50 years, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week. It is an opportunity to celebrate American innovation and entrepreneurship and to recognize the invaluable contributions our nation’s small businesses make to their communities and the national economy.
View more photos from the event here.
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