New York Small Business Owners Meet With SBA Administrator to Talk Immigration Reform
Entrepreneurs joined SBA Administrator Karen Mills on Wednesday, August 7 to discuss immigration reform and how it could affect small businesses
Staten Island, NY̢??The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with small business advocacy organization Small Business Majority, hosted a small business roundtable discussion today featuring SBA Administrator Karen Mills on the immigration reform legislation currently being considered by Congress and how it could impact small businesses. The forum was an opportunity for small employers to learn about what̢???s in the bill, how it might affect them and to give feedback on the proposed legislation.
̢???We are extremely pleased that our small business owners had an opportunity to discuss the important topic of immigration reform with SBA Administrator Karen Mills,̢???? said Linda Baran, Staten Island Chamber President & CEO. ̢???Hopefully today̢???s discussion will yield positive results, and forge a deeper relationship between business and government on this issue.̢????
The roundtable event comes as Congress is considering a major overhaul to the US̢???s immigration system. Recent polling by Small Business Majority found small businesses across the country agree our immigration system is broken and strongly support reform. What̢???s more, small business owners strongly support provisions of the comprehensive immigration reform proposal currently before Congress.
̢???Small business owners understand that fixing our country̢???s immigration system will help them foster better workforces and new create customers, which will bolster their bottom lines and our economy as a whole,̢???? said Erik Rettig, Northeast Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority. ̢???Events like today̢???s roundtable give small business owners a chance to tell policymakers how immigration reform might benefit them. It is our hope lawmakers move immigration reform legislation that will strengthen our economy and boost small businesses̢??? bottom lines forward in a timely manner.̢????
About Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1895, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most respected business organization on Staten Island. The Chamber is comprised of over 700 businesses representing over 20,000 employees from all across the tri-state area. The majority of its members are small businesses, 80% of which have less than ten employees. In addition to its circle of 700+ members, the Chamber has affiliations on local, state, and federal levels. It is associated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Business Council of NYS, the Chamber Alliance of NYS, the Five Borough Chamber Alliance of NYC, and The Partnership for NYC. Through these relationships, the Chamber can provide access, address business concerns, and pass along information that is pertinent to its members.