WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Tuesday visited with small business owners from across Delaware to listen to their stories as part of a stop on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices policymaker series, “Small Business. America’s Future.” The group provided the Senator with an on-the-ground perspective of challenges and opportunities faced by small businesses and entrepreneurs in today’s economy.

The leaders took part in a conversation at local small business Delaware Limo, aboard one of the largest vehicles in their fleet. Co-founder and CEO Elorm Ahiamadjie is an alum of the 10,000 Small Businesses Voices program, and he was joined by additional program alumni Coleman Bye of Mercantile Press, Greg Finkle of Trinity Subsurface, Markevis Gideon of NERDiT Now, Devon Mitchell of DSN Corporation, Mareya Steinbacher of Shoreline Medical, Suzanne Swift of Spec Simple, Sandy Taccone of Blue Blaze Associates, and Marian Young of BrightFields.

Major topics of discussion included access to affordable capital, workforce competitiveness, and leveling the playing field for small businesses, along with modernizing and reauthorizing the Small Business Administration for the first time since 2000. This included the Senator’s efforts to reauthorize the SBA’s SCORE program.

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities across Delaware, demonstrating the resilience and innovation that makes our state and country strong,” said Senator Coons. “It was wonderful to hear from a handful of the 10,000 Small Businesses Voices to learn how I can continue to help them unleash their potential, including by fighting for the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration, and SCORE in particular. I look forward to continuing to work every day to support and empower small businesses and entrepreneurs across Delaware.”

“It was an honor to host Senator Chris Coons at Delaware Limo. Small businesses like ours have faced all kinds of obstacles over the last few years, but we’ve persevered. I was grateful to join with other Delaware small business owners to talk about our difficulties as well as opportunities for growth. Senator Coons was an excellent listener when we discussed our experiences, and he heard and appreciated what we have all fought through over the last few years. I’m thankful he took time out of his schedule to come to Delaware Limo and hear from the constituents that are the lifeblood of our great state,” said Ahiamadjie. “I’m also thankful for Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses for providing me with the knowledge I need to develop my business, along with organizing this event today that united Delaware business leaders for this important discussion,”

The series, “Small Business. America’s Future.”, seeks to spotlight reauthorization of the Small Business Administration, which a survey conducted by Goldman Sachs shows 94% of small business owners support and believe is important for Congress to accomplish.  

 For additional photos of today’s event, click here.

 

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