National ACE Met with Government Officials and Small Business Owners in Houston, Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2022

ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MEET WITH LEGISLATORS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TO DISCUSS THE STATE AND FUTURE OF AAPI BUSINESSES

[March 30, 2022, Houston, Texas] – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) alongside affiliate chamber, the Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC), hosted an AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners to discuss the current state of business in Houston. 

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 Houston event is the fourth roundtable this year, preceded by Detroit, Fort Walton Beach, and New York. 

AAPI small business owners discussed resources available to them, AAPI hate, and the long-term effects of COVID for business owners. Entrepreneurs mentioned COVID-specific challenges, including the ‘great resignation,’ loss of clientele, and the high costs of obtaining inventory. They also expressed the need for education on logistics, connections to reliable transportation companies, and information on federal purchasing. Lastly, AAPI community leaders shared the urgency of building trust with financial and public institutions. 

“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. National ACE looks forward to working with the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston to advance solutions that will help our economy move forward.”

Joining AAPI entrepreneurs were Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner, Jack Cagle; Small Business Administration (SBA) Houston Director, Tim Jeffcoat; U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Conciliation Specialist, Kim Milstead; and Houston Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Director, Marshette Turner. Liz Lara Carreño from Goldman Sachs raised the importance of diversification in securing revenue streams and building resilience through collaboration. Government and corporate leaders also emphasized their support in tackling racial discrimination and community tensions, which has been consistently increasing. 

The event concluded with Leo Cai, Owner of Airi Poke & Ramen and one of National ACE’s Restaurant Fund Grant winners, sharing his experience. “During COVID, [National ACE] helped us and others to come back to normal life. I struggled with only $1,000 in my bank account and losing $10,000 a month to maintain my business. But through loans and National ACE’s grant, I was able to get back on my feet. This year, we are even able to open a third location.” Cai’s story demonstrates the importance of committing to the prosperity of AAPI small businesses, as well as the need for ongoing discussions on such topics. 

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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