WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Virginia Organizations & Leaders Applaud Spanberger’s Work to Invest in Virginia’s Economy, Small Businesses, & Workforce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has Awarded Spanberger with the “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship,” “Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award,” & “Spirit of Enterprise Award” for Her Work to Support Virginia’s Economy Help Grow Virginia’s Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Throughout her six years in Congress, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger has been a steadfast advocate for Virginia’s small businesses and workforce — earning widespread recognition from Virginia organizations and community leaders committed to fostering economic growth and supporting the success of Virginia’s businesses and workers.

In Congress, Spanberger has advanced bipartisan legislation and secured resources to support small businesses, promote workforce development, and expand export opportunities for Virginia businesses. She has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to growing Virginia’s economy, cutting red tape for small businesses, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, and advocating for unions that serve Virginia workers.

As Spanberger’s time in Congress comes to a close, local leaders and advocates from the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, and Todos Neighborhood Market have expressed their gratitude for her efforts to strengthen Virginia’s economy, small businesses, and workforce.

“In May 2024, I joined industry leaders and members of the staff of the National Grocers Association to visit some legislators on Capitol Hill. For the most part, we were greeted by members of the staff of said legislators, but to my surprise everything was different when we had the opportunity to visit the office of Virginia’s Seventh District — my district,” said Carlos Castro, President, Todos Neighborhood Market. “Our representative, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, not only personally greeted us with great enthusiasm, but also made sure that we met with all the members of her staff. It was a great honor to meet this group of dedicated professionals that demonstrated great enthusiasm in listening to what we had to say. Congresswoman Spanberger not only took notes, but also asked questions related to the topics, demonstrating a genuine interest in working with us. I was very impressed by the cordial, welcome reception she gave us, and for the energy and enthusiasm with which she does her job. There is no doubt in my mind that she puts country before politics like real leaders do.”

“The Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce is proud to have partnered with the Office of U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger on both the Workforce Development Summit and the Black Business Round Table in Prince William County. These collaborations have been crucial in advancing workforce development and supporting Black-owned businesses, fostering economic growth and innovation within our community,” said Ernisha M. Hall, President, Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. “Rep. Spanberger’s tenure in the U.S. House has been marked by her dedication to economic equity, empowerment of diverse communities, and her proactive support for minority-owned enterprises. Her leadership has left a lasting impact, creating sustainable opportunities that will benefit Virginians for years to come. We extend our deepest gratitude for her commitment and the positive changes she has inspired, which continue to guide our mission to support a thriving and inclusive business environment.”

“As the Congresswoman for the Seventh District of Virginia, Representative Abigail Spanberger has made a remarkable impact on the Culpeper Chamber and the local business community over the past years. Her dedication to keeping our community informed and engaged is evident through her consistent efforts to gather feedback and provide valuable updates to her constituents,” Amy Frazier, President and CEO, Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. “Whether attending in person or sending a representative, she never misses an opportunity to support our community events, including the Appreciation and Valor Awards, Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, CulpeperFest, various ribbon-cutting celebrations and more. On behalf of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, we would like to thank Representative Spanberger for her unwavering commitment to the Culpeper business community during her time representing the Seventh District.”

“SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, deeply appreciates Rep. Spanberger’s loyal support for American small businesses, in Virginia’s seventh district and beyond, and her efforts to address the issues facing today’s entrepreneurs,” Bridget Weston, CEO, SCORE. “We thank Rep. Spanberger for her commitment to small businesses during her time in Congress, which she demonstrated by listening to small business owners, advancing legislation on their behalf and leading funding efforts so that SCORE can continue its work of mentoring and educating small business owners.”

BACKGROUND

Throughout her time in Congress, Spanberger has worked to support policies that drive economic growth, strengthen small businesses, and create opportunities for Virginia’s workers. In June 2020, Spanberger received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship” for her work to bring Democrats and Republicans together to advance legislation that supports Virginia’s economy, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Spirit of Enterprise Award” for her leadership on policies that help grow Virginia’s small businesses. She also earned their “Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award” for her support of legislation important to the business community across Virginia and the United States.

Spanberger also was a vocal champion of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). Throughout 2019, she heard from Virginia businesses, farms, and workers about the potential benefits of the USMCA. In December 2019, Spanberger joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in ratifying the USMCA in the U.S. House. Earlier that month, she joined then-Vice President Mike Pence at the White House to discuss the need to finalize the agreement.

Spanberger has also been long committed to investing in Virginia’s workforce. In September 2024, Spanberger hosted her 2024 Workforce Training Summit to bring together Virginia business owners, employers, and economic development, education, and industry leaders. Spanberger and panelists took questions from attendees, provided their outlook on efforts to strengthen Virginia’s workforce, and responded to feedback about existing workforce training and development initiatives in Virginia.

In June 2024,  Spanberger hosted a roundtable discussion at Todos Supermarket in Prince William County to hear directly from Hispanic business leaders, small-business owners, and entrepreneurs from across Virginia’s Seventh District. In August 2023, Spanberger hosted a Black Business Roundtable featuring Black business and nonprofit leaders in Prince William County, including representatives from the Virginia Black Business Directory and Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.

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