Rep. Wasserman Schultz Hails Passage of Small Business Entrepreneurship Act

(Washington, DC) – This week, in the run up to her Saturday Small Business Workshop, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) praised passage of H.R. 2352, the “Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, which will drive economic growth by creating new jobs and giving small businesses and entrepreneurs the resources they need to succeed and thrive.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “I am deeply committed to supporting the spirit of entrepreneurship that has lead to amazing small businesses across our nation. The legislation we passed this week is crucial to getting us out of this financial downturn.”

As part of our agenda to create jobs, this bill marks the first major overhaul of the Small Business Administration’s entrepreneurial development programs in a decade. It expands and improves some of the SBA’s most successful programs, like the Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and the Service Corps of Retired Executives. It also creates new online learning programs and establishes grant programs to help small firms secure capital and credit.

“Programs like these are the best ways to invest in our economy,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “For every dollar we spend on a successful entrepreneurship program, we see a $2.87 return to the Treasury. Last year alone, these development programs created 73,000 jobs.”

The legislation also establishes, for the first time, a nationwide network of Veterans Business Centers to provide specialized entrepreneurial training and counseling to our nation’s veterans.

“We are not only taking care of those who are struggling to get their small businesses through this economic crisis, but we are also providing resources for out-of-work Americans who want to make entrepreneurship their next career move.” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Congress is committed to putting Americans back to work, and with this bill, our small businesses can lead the way.”

Rep. Wasserman Schultz will host area small businesses along with Federal, State and Local agencies for a Small Business Workshop, focused around the American Recovery and Reinvestment act. The agencies will provide marketing, management and financial guidance to those who already own, or are interested in starting, a small business.

Event info:

Saturday, May 23, 2009
Registration: 8:00a.m. – 9:00a.m.
Location: Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale