Strengthening America's Small Businesses, Transforming Hunters View

Strengthening America’s Small Businesses
Over the last three weeks, I have met with numerous small businesses in San Francisco to hear how Congress can best help them succeed, grow, and thrive. Small businesses are the backbone of American jobs, growth, and innovation. House Democrats will continue to engage small business owners and entrepreneurs as we work to put Americans back to work through our ‘Make It In America’ initiative and President Obama’s American Jobs Act.

Congress must take immediate action to strengthen our nation’s small businesses, promote job creation and revitalize our economy.

Congresswoman Pelosi tours the Hunters View public housing development, which is currently being renovated and revitalized to build new units, stimulate the local economy, and create jobs for residents.

Transforming Hunters View
Last week, I was pleased to tour the Hunters View public housing development as it begins the vertical construction phase of its redevelopment. The housing project is currently being renovated through HOPE SF, which seeks to transform San Francisco’s most distressed public housing sites into thriving mixed-income communities. The project is part of the revitalization of Hunters Point; integrating it alongside new residential units, office and retail space, hundreds of acres of parks and open space, and creating thousands of jobs for the area.

I was proud to secure federal funding for this project and to partner alongside former Mayor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Ed Lee, city housing officials, and state and community partners. This effort upholds the core values and goals of HOPE SF: to create sustainable, mixed-income, affordable housing; to get local workers on the job rebuilding their own community; to connect households to services, schools, transit and jobs. Most importantly, it stays true to the principle of one-for-one replacement, ensuring no loss of housing for residents during or after construction.

Once finished, Hunters View residents will enjoy a higher quality of life for themselves and their children; and the revitalized Hunters Point community will be a destination for small businesses, retail, commerce, and jobs.

New Education Benefits for Veterans
Starting this October, our nation’s veterans will be eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 G.I. bill that passed last year under Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. This legislation updates, improves, and strengthens the G.I. Bill.; extending educational benefits to National Guardsmen and veterans taking advantage of online education, expanding opportunities for job training and vocational education, and arming our troops with the tools they need to contribute as workers and entrepreneurs. For more information on how the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill can help you, please visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website at https://www.gibill.va.gov/.

Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage month, we honor our country’s vibrant Latino community. The rich contributions of Latinos throughout America’s history is a source of pride, and of strength, to our nation. Whether serving with great patriotism in our Armed Forces or in public service, succeeding in business and in the arts, or preserving and sharing their culture, Hispanics make America more American.

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