Spanberger Concludes Two-Day Central Virginia Business Tour, Meets with Local Business Owners, Workers, & Students

HENRICO, V.A. — This week, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger concluded her two-day business tour across Central Virginia.

During her nine-stop tour focused on expanding opportunity for area employees and addressing barriers to business growth, Spanberger visited several local businesses, took questions directly from workers, and heard from business leaders about some of the unique challenges facing the area’s businesses—including minority-owned businesses.

“The Seventh District’s economy is growing thanks to the hard work of business owners, employees, and educators throughout our area. During our business tour, I was able to hear suggestions on how I can better focus my work in the U.S. House to strengthen opportunity for all Central Virginians and sustain this economic growth for years to come,” said Spanberger. “Our small business owners are currently facing regulatory burdens, hiring challenges, and a need for increased access to capital. Additionally, they’re clear about the need for more educational opportunities for our students and additional infrastructure improvements. That’s why I’ll keep working to expand access to training programs, create long-term trade certainty for our businesses, strengthen investment in broadband internet projects, and address the unique issues experienced by minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses—and I look forward to additional conversations about how we can work together to strengthen Central Virginia’s dynamic and diverse economy.”

On Tuesday, Spanberger toured Vulcan Materials Company’s Royal Quarry, discussed workforce hiring issues with the Country Club of Virginia, visited Launch Entertainment Destination, and sat down with employees at Ma Michele’s Café and Catering. To start her two-day business tour, Spanberger visited Vulcan Materials Company’s Royal Quarry in Henrico. During this stop, she toured the quarry, addressed Vulcan Materials Company employees, and heard about how the business is working to address many of the transportation issues throughout the Greater Richmond area. She then met with leadership staff and grounds personnel at the Country Club of Virginia to hear about the challenges and successes the company has faced related to workforce hiring and H-2B visas. Spanberger’s third stop of the tour was at Launch Entertainment Destination in Midlothian, where she learned about how the business is contributing to the Chesterfield County economy and giving back to several community organizations. Spanberger closed the first day of her business tour by joining the owners and staff at Ma Michele’s Café and Catering in Midlothian to discuss how small businesses and restaurants can take advantage of the region’s economic growth.

On Wednesday, Spanberger met with UPS employees, met with teachers and students at St. Joseph’s Villa, discussed the economic impact of the Richmond Strikers, held a discussion with employees at Snead Construction, and convened a minority-owned small business roundtable. First, Spanberger visited the UPS Distribution Center in Chesterfield, where she took questions from UPS employees and learned about recent challenges created by increased traffic and infrastructure issues. Following the discussion, she joined a UPS package delivery route in Midlothian. Then, Spanberger toured the campus of St. Joseph’s Villa to learn more about how the facility helps children and families access mental health, housing, and disability resources, as well has how St. Joseph’s works to provide expanded educational opportunities to underserved children and children with special needs. Her third stop on Wednesday featured a discussion with the employees from the Richmond Strikers, an organization that generates roughly $25 million in overall economic impact each year across the Greater Richmond area through their annual Jefferson Cup. Spanberger then toured the office of Snead Construction, where she learned more about how the heavy construction-focused company has expanded its mark throughout the region. To close her two-day business tour, Spanberger convened a minority-owned small business roundtable in Henrico to hear directly from several local business leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing minority, women, and veteran business owners.

Since arriving in the U.S. House, Spanberger has worked to support Central Virginia businesses as they look to grow their operations and strengthen the region’s economy—including by passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) last month and introducing a bipartisan bill to expand affordable access to workforce training and credential programs.

Throughout her time in the U.S. House, Spanberger has held multiple two-day, issue-focused tours to hear concerns directly from her constituents. In November 2019, she convened a two-day healthcare tour, in September 2019 she held a two-day education tour, and in August 2019 she participated in a two-day farm tour.

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