{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-host-roundtable-discussion-with-black-business-owners", "Booker, Kim Host Roundtable Discussion with Black Business Owners", "2022-08-10", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "Willingboro, NJ \u2013 In recognition of Black Business Month, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ-03) today hosted a roundtable discussion with Black business owners to discuss the federal response to COVID-19, challenges for Black-owned businesses in accessing capital, and navigating the current U.S. economy.\n\nBooker was a strong supporter of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021, legislation that ensured the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) was permanently authorized and allowed for the agency\u2019s expansion by creating regional offices. Booker was also a vocal advocate for opening the first MBDA regional office in New Jersey. As a result of these efforts, The Enterprise Center, which has a longstanding history of supporting Black-owned businesses, was selected to operate New Jersey\u2019s first MBDA located in Camden, NJ.\n\n\u201cAt the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of Black-owned small businesses were forced to shut down\u2014some permanently,\u201d said Sen. Booker. \u201cYet, even before the public health emergency, deep-seated inequities, including barriers to capital and business development, prevented Black entrepreneurs from starting or expanding their business. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve fought in the Senate as a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to expand access to capital and critical resources to Black business owners. Today\u2019s discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges these entrepreneurs face and underscored the importance of our continued advocacy for them.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of our economy and our community. Today with Senator Booker, we got to hear from black businesses owners in Willingboro about their aspirations and how we can best support them,\u201d said Congressman Andy Kim. \u201cFrom ATAP to Glam Bar, to Seafood Heaven, these businesses and their owners make our community a better place. I look forward to continuing these conversations alongside my friend Senator Booker to make sure we\u2019re looking out for our small businesses, cutting government red tape, and getting them the support they need to keep Willingboro and surrounding communities\u2019 economies strong.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s event was part of Booker\u2019s 2022 Jersey Summer Road Trip, a series of stops highlighting the priorities he continues to fight for in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the state\u2019s residents. The road trip will focus on Booker\u2019s ongoing commitment to serving New Jersey\u2019s veterans, his efforts to secure congressionally directed spending for critical New Jersey projects and organizations, and his support of local businesses and industries, and much more.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-host-roundtable-discussion-with-black-business-owners"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.9123369604349136, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}