U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st dist.) visited LUHV Food, a woman-owned small business in Hatboro that focuses on healthy and environmentally friendly food, to take part in a roundtable with local small business owners. The group discussed the economic challenges that continue to hamper small businesses as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Silvia Lucci, a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and the founder and CEO of LUHV Food, gave Fitzpatrick a tour of her business’s production facility. Lucci was joined by fellow 10,000 Small Businesses alumni Iveta Gigova of ArcheWild; Manish Gorawala of Tri-Force Consulting Services; Bose Houser of Rocks & Cornerstones; and Shaheed Smith of SAS Geospatial.
Among the issues discussed were workforce challenges, access to quality child care and affordable capital, and competing with larger businesses for government contracting opportunities.
“Over the last several years, our local businesses have been adversely impacted and had to make difficult decisions in the face of extraordinary challenges,” Fitzpatrick said. “The 10,000 Small Businesses Program has done an outstanding job assisting many small businesses throughout our country at a time when business capital was much needed. Meeting the Lucci family and learning about their journey was a humbling experience, and I am proud to be an advocate for them and the many other small businesses within our community.”
“It was an honor to host Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick at LUHV Food. Small businesses like ours have faced an uphill climb during the last few years, but we are resilient. I’m thankful to join with other small businesses in the region to talk about our challenges and opportunities. Congressman Fitzpatrick was an avid listener to our experiences, and he understood what we have all gone through over the last two years. I’m grateful he took the time to come to my business and hear from the constituents that are the lifeblood of our community. I’m also thankful for Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses for equipping me with the tools I need to grow my business, and for putting on this event today that brought together key players in our local community for this important discussion,” Lucci said.
