Readout of White House Roundtable with Latino Business Leaders

Yesterday, the Office of Public Engagement and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs convened a roundtable with 20 Latino venture and business leaders to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in the Latino community and how President Biden’s economic agenda is expanding access to capital for Latinos.  Latino entrepreneurs are a critical driver of the small business boom taking place under President Biden, with Latino business ownership up 40% compared to before the pandemic.

During the convening, participants discussed the Administration’s direct investments in Latino communities and provided recommendations on how to scale efforts to increase access to capital. Administration officials highlighted investments to grow the economy from the middle out by supporting minority business owners and fund managers, and discussed ways to increase direct investment for Latino entrepreneurs, including programs like the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, the Economic Development Agency’s Tech Hubs Program, and the SBA’s Small Business Investment Company’s Investment Diversification and Growth rule.

Biden-Harris Administration officials will continue working with Latino business leaders to deliver on the President’s efforts to advance equity for the Latino community.

Administration participants included:

1. Stephen K. Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
2. Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
3. Administrator Isabella Guzman, Small Business Administration
4. Dr. Arati Prabhakar, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
5. Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary of the Economic Development Agency, Department of Commerce

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