Cornyn Highlights Integral Role Minority-Owned Businesses Play in Texas Economy

Press Release

Cornyn Highlights Integral Role Minority-Owned Businesses Play in Texas Economy

Discusses priorities for minority businesses with U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, SBA Deputy Director Jovita Carranza, and local minority entrepreneurs

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, and Deputy Director Jovita Carranza of the Small Business Administration (SBA), today met with San Antonio officials and minority-owned small businesses. Sen. Cornyn invited Sen. Martinez and SBA Deputy Director Carranza to join him in meeting with minority business leaders to hear from them directly on the top issues facing their businesses today.

Next week, business owners and employees across the country will celebrate Minority Enterprise Development Week and pay tribute to the significant contributions of minority-owned businesses and their employees.

"I welcomed the chance to meet firsthand with some of San Antonio's leading minority small business owners today. I was thankful Sen. Martinez could join me. Representing a state home to some of the fastest-growing Hispanic-owned businesses in the country, he is no stranger to the priorities and challenges faced by minority-owned small businesses.

"Minority-owned businesses have made significant contributions to the Texas economy and have provided job opportunities to Texans across the state. Minority entrepreneurs demonstrate the hard work and innovation that are central to the American Dream. I've been proud to support low-tax, pro-growth policies that have helped these businesses expand and hire.

"But like other small businesses across the country, minority-owned small businesses face a unique set of challenges. With energy costs at record-highs and looming concerns about lending failures, it is more difficult for small businesses to absorb these costs and risks than it is for larger corporations.

"For these reasons, I have pushed for reauthorization of the Small Business Administration. As SBA Deputy Director Carranza attested to today, this bill has unfortunately been blocked for years by Congressional leaders who have instead passed a series of temporary extensions. Among other important initiatives, this bill would help minority business owners in San Antonio gain access to more affordable loans. Congress must pass the SBA reauthorization soon to help minority entrepreneurs weather economic challenges and succeed."

Among the attendees were: Ricardo Romo, President of the University of Texas at San Antonio; Rolando Pablos, Chairman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Ramiro Cavazos, President & CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Richard Dayoub, President of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

SBA Deputy Director Carranza was named Hispanic Woman of the Year by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2004 and joined the SBA after 30 years of corporate experience at UPS. Before moving to the SBA, Carranza served as vice president of air operations for UPS.

Sen. Martinez was born in Cuba and arrived in the U.S. at age 15. Prior to serving in the U.S. Senate, he was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush.

Source