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News | Feb. 16, 2024

Congressional Small Business Fireside Chat

By Suzanne Zurn Office of Small Business Programs

Arlington, VA  –  

The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) hosted the first Small Business Fireside Chat of 2024 yesterday with members from the House Small Business Committee as part of National Entrepreneurship Week. The topic of the interactive discussion was “The Importance of Small Businesses in the Defense Industrial Base.”

Mr. Farooq Mitha, OSBP Director, moderated the panel with Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) before a capacity audience at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Members of the live audience and virtual attendees engaged the panelists on a range of diverse and complex topics.

Discussion topics included: enhancing collaboration between small businesses and the DoD to support small business growth, reducing regulatory burdens, improving access to capital especially in rural areas, enhancing federal resource awareness and utilization among small businesses, integrating disabled Americans into the workforce, providing tax incentives for small businesses to engage in research and development, FAA reform legislation in supporting small business operations, and childcare supports to maximize workforce participation.

This dialogue reinforced the significance of collaboration, innovation, and support for small businesses within the defense sector. We thank our esteemed panelists, Rep. Molinaro and Rep. Pappas, for spending time with us.

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