National ACE Met with Government Officials and Small Business Owners in Irvine, California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2022

ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MEET WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN IRVINE TO DISCUSS THE STATE AND FUTURE OF AAPI BUSINESSES

[May 6, Irvine, California] – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), alongside affiliate partner, Asian American for Better Community, hosted an AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners to discuss the current state of business in Irvine. 

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 members to find solutions for the barriers facing minority-owned small businesses today. The Irvine event is National ACE’s tenth roundtable this year.  

With over 60 attendees, participants discussed the unique challenges facing Irvine’s residents and small business owners. The conversation explored visibility of small businesses, anti-AAPI discrimination, structural inequalities, inaccessible permitting language and procedures, high taxes and fees, and immigration. The subject of AAPI small businesses getting blanket sued was also raised, in an urgent call to action to attending officials. 

Mayor Farrah Khan addressed her commitment to Irvine’s AAPI small business community: “We created a COVID-19 business reopening task force, making sure that businesses knew that we were going to do this together. We brought the business community together. If we were going to fight this, we were going to do it together through free and accessible outdoor dining permits. When we found out anti-Asian hate was increasing, we wanted the data. We have opportunities for businesses to do business with the city. Right now, we are creating those pathways to make sure that AAPI-owned and women-owned businesses have that priority.”

As the pandemic wanes, Irvine’s small business owners shared how big brands are returning to shopping centers and small businesses are disappearing. Kevin Lin, the owner of Cestan in Irvine Spectrum Mall, said: “I can see that after the pandemic, at Irvine Spectrum Mall, most of the small businesses are gone. They are moving in big national chains. We are one of the few remaining small businesses there. I would love to hear more about shining light on small businesses like ours in Irvine, keeping them alive, and getting more people to shop there.”

John Zhang, an Irvine small business owner, shared how resource and language inaccessibility often leads AAPI entrepreneurs to exploitative or disadvantageous contracts. He also touched on the mental health dimension of the pandemic, with divided families, illness, discrimination, and struggling business. Dale Ting, an e-commerce entrepreneur, discussed how it’s nearly impossible for small businesses to keep up with the high fees and taxes that cater to large businesses. 

Joining AAPI entrepreneurs at the event were Mayor Farrah Khan, City of Irvine; Ben Raju, District Director, Los Angeles District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration; Angie Chang, KCAL Insurance, ACE NextGen Representative; and Garrett Gin, Bank of America, National ACE Boardmember.

“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 President and CEO, Chiling Tong. “This conversation will help policymakers to understand the unmet needs of our community so we can find solutions.” 

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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.

About Asian American for Better Community:

AABC is a nonprofit organization and its mission is to promote community services, civic engagements and voter educations. We have worked with community partners to sponsor events that bring positive impact to our community as well as to encourage informed and active participation in government branches and agencies. Being active in the local events, Asian Americans are becoming an important and integral part of the community in Silicon Valley.

PRESS CONTACT:

Janet Alikpala

Jalikpala@nationalace.org

312-217-4369