| <home>
-- <press releases>
-- <October
1 ,
2003> Congresswoman
Bordallo Participates in FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 1, 2003 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo joined her colleagues on the House Committee on Small Business in hosting over 70 of the nation's minority business leaders at the second annual Minority Business Summit. During the summit, participants discussed important issues facing minority businesses today including access to financing and expanding federal contracting opportunities. "Small businesses are an important driver of our economy," said Congresswoman Bordallo. "Today's summit continues an important dialogue between the minority business community and Congress as to how we can assist small businesses to become economic engines in their communities." Participants discussed improvements to the Small Business Administration financing programs, including increased availability of SBA loans in economically distressed areas and making the application process less confusing. Participants also discussed ways of improving the 8(a) program and other SBA federal contract procurement programs. "The Small Business Act sets a goal that 23% of all federal contacts be awarded to small businesses," said Bordallo. "This goal is not being met. I will continue to encourage large federal contractors to include local small businesses as subcontractors in their projects." The event included minority business leaders from over half of the states. The participants represented all types and sizes of businesses as well as nearly 20 business groups, which account for thousands of other minority businesses across the country. ###
Contact: Neil Weare
in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin
Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272. |
