Rep. Demings Hosts Puerto Rican Business Roundtable

ORLANDO, FL – Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) yesterday held a roundtable conversation with Central Floridian Puerto Rican business leaders. The event, which has hosted at Achilles Art Café, included a presentation by J. “Malcolm” Richards, District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration North Florida District and Ed Ramos, Senior Area Manager for the U.S. Small Business Administration assigned to Orlando, Florida. Also present were Dr. Fernando Rivera with the University of Central Florida Puerto Rico Research Hub, and Mr. Jorge Figueroa, President of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida.

Said Rep. Demings, “One of my top priorities in Congress is to support Florida’s small businesses. I can’t picture our region without picturing the restaurants, shops, stores, beauticians, doctors’ offices, and countless other small businesses that bring life and community to all of us. This has been a tough pandemic, and I was proud to support the COVID-19 relief that extended billions of dollars of support and other resources to local small businesses, put money in people’s pockets, and supported our vaccination effort.

“We are also currently working to pass major legislation to invest in our communities, rebuild our infrastructure, create millions of new jobs, cut middle class taxes, and reduce the cost of crucial services like health care, education, child care, senior care, and more, which will put money into people’s pockets and help stimulate our economy.

“I want to thank our participants today for this important discussion on how to continue to support our economy, and I invite any small business owners seeking assistance to reach out to my office.”

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