Vice President Harris stops by Atlanta 100 Black Men event to solidify Georgia base ahead of election | State

Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Atlanta for the 100 Black Men of America national conference allowed her to promote the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in economic development as Election Day approaches. November 5.

A predominantly black audience of several thousand people gathered at a Hyatt Regency ballroom in downtown Atlanta to participate in a half-hour conversation with Harris as she competes in the final leg of his so-called National Economic Opportunity Tour. During the half-hour discussion moderated by television host and comedian Steve Harvey, Harris stressed the importance of Black people accessing the hundreds of billions of federal dollars allocated for infrastructure projects, small business loans and other government programs available over the years. these last years.

Harris said President Joe Biden’s administration has made historic progress on economic opportunities that are underexploited by Black entrepreneurs and others who have long faced systemic barriers to accessing resources financial.

Harris urged the crowd to spread awareness about small business loan programs, government contracts, a proposed $25,000 down payment credit for first-time home buyers and the student loan forgiveness program that has up to has now provided debt relief of more than $160 billion. to 5 million Americans.

Harris also discussed steps being taken to support community banks which can provide financial advice and support tailored to a specific community more than a traditional bank.

She also mentioned steps taken to meet the goal of a 50% increase in federal government contracts for minority-owned businesses since she took office in 2021.

“When we talk about the need for people to have access to economic opportunities, we must take into account what is holding them back, because we have no shortage of hard work, work ethic, good ideas, vision and of inspiration,” Harris said. “But there are inherent barriers in the system that need to be overcome to give people that opportunity. This is not a gift. It’s about giving hardworking people an opportunity and not just getting by. »

Biden and Harris are entering the final stretch of their 2024 re-election campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 election showdown against former President Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 contest.

Harvey expressed frustration at hearing Black people call into his national morning radio show criticizing the Biden-Harris administration and other Democratic officials for not doing enough to support Black people.

“This administration needs to get the word out about what it’s really doing and what it’s actually accomplishing, so we stop just saying ‘what have you done for black people,'” he said.

Harris’ trip to Atlanta on Friday was his fourth visit to Georgia this year. In April, during her most recent stop, she visited Atlanta to highlight the region’s award of a $158 million grant through the Department of Agriculture’s Community and Neighborhood Reconnection program. Transportation.

On Tuesday, Harris will return to Atlanta to attend rapper Quavo’s inaugural Rocket Foundation summit to discuss policies to prevent gun violence in communities. Quavo, real name Quavious Marshall, rose to national fame in 2013 as one-third of the Lawrenceville-based rap group Migos. The group disbanded following the November 2022 shooting death of Marshall’s nephew and Migos rapper Kirsnick “TakeOff” Ball.

Trump’s April visit to a west Atlanta Chick-fil-A became a nationally viral moment before Trump attended a fundraiser for his campaign later that evening. It was Trump’s first visit to Georgia since he went into custody at Atlanta’s Rice Street Jail in August after being charged with conspiring to illegally overturn the election results. 2020 presidential election in Georgia.