American Sustainable Business Council Applauds Small Business Jobs Bill Passage

kristyCommunity Development Solutions

Washington, DC – The American Sustainable Business Council applauds today’s passage of the Small Business Jobs Bill by the Senate and looks forward to final approval by the House. The bill contains a $30 billion lending fund for community banks to provide new loans to small businesses that have been hit hard by the economic meltdown and continued credit crunch.

“Small businesses account for most of the job creation in this country and, with this bill, our businesses and many others like them can do even more to help build a vibrant and sustainable economy,” said David Levine, co-founder and executive director of the American Sustainable Business Council. “Especially today as we heard that the number of Americans in poverty is the largest on record, we are pleased that the Senate approved this important step forward.

“With the successful vote today in the Senate, small businesses are one step closer to powering an economic recovery through job creation,” said Frank Knapp, Jr., president and CEO of The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. On Tuesday, Mr. Knapp spoke at a Senate press conference on behalf of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), joined by other leaders of ASBC member organizations and businesses.

“My business can’t grow and I can’t hire more people when I can’t get credit,” said Lew Prince, managing partner of Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis, MO and member of Business for Shared Prosperity. “This fund will help businesses like mine – and the community banks we borrow from – survive the recession and begin to grow again.”

About American Sustainable Business Council

The American Sustainable Business Council is a fast-growing collaboration of 24 business networks, including the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority, Business for Shared Prosperity, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Green America, Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association and other organizations. The Council represents more than 55,000 companies and more than 150,000 executives, owners, investors and entrepreneurs working to build a strong, sustainable economy.