ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MEET WITH LEGISLATORS IN NEW YORK TO DISCUSS THE STATE AND FUTURE OF AAPI BUSINESSES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2022
[March 22, 2022, Flushing, New York] – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) alongside affiliate partners, The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York (CCCNY) and New York Young Entrepreneurs Roundtable (NYYER), hosted an AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners to discuss the state of business with legislators and community leaders in New York.
The AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable is an open forum for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander business owners in the United States to connect with policymakers, corporate partners, and community leaders to find solutions for the barriers facing minority-owned small businesses today.
Joining New York’s AAPI business community at this roundtable were Congresswoman Grace Meng; Small Business Administration’s Atlantic Regional Administrator, Marlene Cintron; Minority Business Development Agency’s Chief of Business Development, Joann Hill; and Department of Justice’s Senior Conciliation Specialist of the Northeast and Caribbean Region, Matthew Lattimer.
The panelists and participants discussed the passing and implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. They also emphasized the importance of having in-language materials and translators when reporting hate crimes, which have surged in New York. Over the past two years, we have raised awareness and urgent funding for our community, but the challenge is now sustaining and encouraging the AAPI community to continue engaging with political leaders on the issues affecting them.
“Our business community continues to face many challenges. Asian American and Pacific Islander small business owners have battled both COVID-19 and a sharp spike in discrimination and violence. Our policymakers play a significant role in protecting our community, allowing our small businesses to operate safely, and creating prosperity,” said National ACE CEO/President Chiling Tong. “This conversation will help policymakers to understand the unmet needs of our community so we can find solutions. National ACE looks forward to working with our strategic partners, policymakers, and small business owners in New York to advance solutions that will help our economy move forward.”
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About National ACE
National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI business interests and positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE strives to do this through supporting and promoting issues that impact the AAPI business community, improving the economic development and economic impact of the AAPI community, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally. Learn more at www.nationalace.org or www.aapistrong.com.
Press Contact:
Janet Alikpala
jalikpala@nationalace.org
312-217-4369