This afternoon, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) hosted a roundtable discussion with young entrepreneurs from the greater Nashua area to discuss the unique challenges they face as young business leaders and what Congress can do to best support their needs. Rep. Kuster was joined by Rep. Eric Swalwell, the chair of the Future Forum, a group of 17 young Democratic Members of Congress focused on issues and opportunities for millennial Americans including student loan debt and entrepreneurship. The roundtable provided local entrepreneurs with a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about how Congress can help New Hampshire businesses expand and help young people who want to start a business. The Future Forum is working on legislation that will address the burden of rising student loan debt and declining homeownership and entrepreneurship among millennials.

“We must ensure that young business leaders and entrepreneurs across the Granite State and the nation have access to the resources – at the federal, state, and local levels – they need to grow their businesses,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I’m always so grateful for the opportunity to meet with local business leaders, and today’s roundtable was a great chance to hear directly from young entrepreneurs from around the greater Nashua area about how Congress can help bolster their successes as business leaders. I thank Rep. Swalwell for taking the time to be part of today’s conversation, and I will proudly carry today’s conversation with me as I continue to support young entrepreneurs alongside Rep. Swalwell and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle when I return to Washington.”

“It was an honor to join Rep. Kuster today to hear from young business leaders in New Hampshire about the challenges they are facing as they start a company and discuss ways Congress can reduce barriers to entrepreneurship,” said Congressman Swalwell. “I hear from young people across the country that one significant barrier that stands in the way of a young person taking the risk to start a business is mounting student loan debt. The Future Forum is committed to taking action to reduce the burden of student loans and make it easier for young people to follow their entrepreneurial passions and help grow our economy.”

Since taking office, Kuster has made economic development and supporting small business growth one of her top priorities. During the roundtable, Kuster highlighted her support for federal programs and legislation that assist New Hampshire small businesses such as the Small Business Development Center (SPDC) program and the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, which would extend and expand the SBA’s successful STEP Grant program. Kuster routinely visits small businesses and economic development projects across the state through her Congress-At-Your-Company series to hear how she can help support their success. The Congresswoman also holds a series of job fairs throughout the Second District to connect job seekers with business owners looking to hire.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is leading the Future Forum, a group of young Democratic Members of the House of Representatives focused on issues and opportunities for millennial Americans. The Future Forum is one of the pillars of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), an initiative overseen by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and DPCC Chair Steve Israel. The Future Forum believes it is not enough to talk about millennials; Members of Congress must listen to and engage millennials to solve these challenges. To that end, the Future Forum has held events with young people across the country to hear about the issues most important to them, and is now working on legislative proposals to address issues including student loans, homeownership, and entrepreneurship.

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