Political Quotes

On the recordJune 25, 2019
There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States representing more than 99 percent of all businesses. They spur the American economy by taking great risks to launch new ventures, develop new products, and, ultimately spur job growth, and the SBA is a vital part of their support system. The SBA administers a portfolio of entrepreneurial development programs which includes growth accelerators. They help high-growth startups develop their products, identify promising customer segments, and secure resources like vital capital and employees. My amendment aims to restore funding to prior levels, so they have the resources they need to help aspiring entrepreneurs. Growth accelerators have long been a powerful tool for helping innovators grow. Each year since they were formed in 2005 they have gained in popularity. In fact, their numbers nearly doubled each year between 2008 and 2014 with growth remaining steady since then. They serve as an all-inclusive creative hub that provides technical assistance for growing businesses and a central location for investors to find vetted businesses. The success of these companies is real. The average valuation of firms graduating from an accelerator is $90 million. But beyond promoting business expansion, growth accelerators also bring economic development and job opportunities to the communities in which they are located.…
Said by
Nydia M. Velazquez
New York
Source
govinfo.gov
Jun 25, 2019

Share

More from Nydia M. Velazquez

Jan 20, 2026

I am proud to support H.R. 5784, the AI-WISE Act. Four years ago, AI burst into mainstream focus with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT. When I first tried this tool, I was shocked. I knew then and there that AI had the potential to…

govinfo.gov
Feb 28, 2024

Again, I appreciate the great work of my colleagues on this bill, and I yield myself the balance of my time. I will close by noting that 3 weeks ago, the committee held a hearing on small business size standards and contracting policies…

govinfo.gov
Nov 28, 2023

Our country is experiencing a small business boom and veteran entrepreneurship is helping to lead the way. SBA offers a number of counseling and training programs that can help them either launch or grow a small business. It is vitally…

govinfo.gov
Jan 20, 2026

I am pleased to support the AI for Main Street Act, which would allow SBDCs to assist small business owners on how to evaluate artificial intelligence. I commend Mr. Alford and Ms. Scholten for working together on this bipartisan…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation