December 3, 2009
12pm to 2:30pm
St. Regis Hotel, 923 16th and K Street NW,
Washington DC, 20006

Roger Campos & Rep. Eric Cantor (R - VA)

Luncheon Panelists

Joe Garcia, Director Economic Impact Department of Energy

Luncheon Audience

Jason McCall, Minority Business Development Agency,
Commerce Dept

Rep. Eric Cantor (R - VA) Receives Congressional Award

Speakers and Luncheon Panelists

• Over 150 CEO’s representing small, minority, women, veteran, HUBZone, and veteran disabled business owners discussed access to contracts and capital
• Helping to sustain and build minority businesses and communities to keep America competitive and a leader in world technology and innovation
  
  Complete Luncheon Event Photo Link: click here

"Small businesses are central to America’s economic future. With joblessness at an all time high, Congress should provide these job creators and entrepreneurs with every tool available to help them grow their businesses and get people back to work. The Minority Business Round Table is a key organization that supports small business activity in this country and I look forward to working with them in the future."....House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA).

"Access to capital and contracts is the lifeblood of all businesses and we are being drained and seeing red", said Roger A. Campos, President & CEO. “CEO’s are feed up and fueled with activism to change the way business is being conducted under these economic conditions. They are demanding more from their government and representatives in Congress."

"You have been a staunch advocate for the minority business community for more than a decade and continue to push the bar on obtaining better access to capital and opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.".... Jason C. McCall, Special Assistant to the National Director, Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce.

"We applaud you for a 'job well done' although we got bumped from the White House, the Luncheon event was still a 'success.' May god give you the strength and courage to keep up your special work.".... Jacob Katz, new MBRT Board Member & CEO, Concordia Merchant Services, NY.

"We at the Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition commend MBRT in development of this event. Minority businesses are critical to job creation for inner cities and this event brought out the key issues and hurdles that exist from creating jobs in our communities.".... Al Pińa, Chair/FMCRC, President/Urban Redevelopment Solutions.

Washington, D.C. – Over 27 million small businesses and four million minority businesses which employ 90 percent of all Americans are at risk facing a shortage of lending sources, lack of capital and access to contracts, sky rocketing healthcare costs, rising fuel prices and limited choices to sustain themselves. Many businesses are facing cut backs and layoffs in our struggling economy. These issues dramatically impacts minority communities disproportionately because the lowest paid workers are least able to afford basic services. The net result is lower wage growth, reductions in hiring, capital outlay, product development and manufacturing which suppresses job creation and stifles economic growth. America’s standard of living and quality of life is at grave risk if we do nothing.

Enter MBRT members in a proactive collective bi-partisan business coalition to engage Administration officials and policy makers and asking their representatives in Congress to put aside political posturing for the greater common good and enforce and pass meaningful public policies that sustains “Main Street", not Wall Street.

MBRT brought together entrepreneurs, business and government leaders from around the country to unite under a common agenda and convened a panel of experts on December 3 at its Issues Facing America Luncheon at the St. Regis hotel from 12 N to 2:30 pm in Washington, D.C. to discuss these and other important topics relating to our economic recovery such as small business and minority set-aside contracting, financial services reform, access to capital, healthcare, education and workforce development, and passing meaningful legislation impacting future generations of American’s.