Above: Gottheimer with women business owners and leaders.

BERGENFIELD, NJ — Today, October 18, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) held a roundtable with women business owners and leaders from across New Jersey to discuss issues impacting small businesses and entrepreneurship — this includes lowering taxes, cutting red tape, promoting pay equity, making childcare more affordable, and solutions to make starting and operating a business more achievable. 

“While things are heading in the right direction on the national level, business owners in our state are facing obstacles to success. That’s why I’m so focused on affordability, so you can create jobs, promote economic growth, and inspire others to start ventures of their own, right here in Jersey.” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I want to help even more Jersey women write entrepreneurship stories of their own and I won’t stop fighting to make that a reality for all of you.”

Gottheimer is supporting women entrepreneurs in Jersey by:

• Ensuring equal pay for equal work: Gottheimer supported and helped pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the persistent gap between men and women’s earnings. The congressman has also helped lead a resolution that recognizes the significance of pay disparities between men and women.
• Expanding access to capital: Gottheimer helped shape and pass the American Rescue Plan, which required the Small Business Administration to implement its State Small Business Credit Initiative. SSBCI provides $10 billion to states like Jersey to expand capital access for small business owners. Gottheimer has also helped lead the Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act and Small Business Child Care Investment Act, which will make it easier for new businesses in the energy and childcare sectors respectively to secure SBA loans. Finally, Congressman Gottheimer announced at the roundtable that he had joined the Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act, which will expand funding for SBA Women’s Business Centers across the country that provide training and loan counseling for women business owners. 
• Making childcare more affordable: Congressman Gottheimer recently announced The Lowering Infant and Toddler Tuition for Learning and Education Act outside Little Learners Childcare Center. The LITTLE Act expands the child tax credit and lowers barriers for entrepreneurs to provide more childcare options for families. 
• Helping lower taxes and cutting red tape: Gottheimer continues to fight to fully restore the State and Local Tax Deduction, or SALT, to make life more affordable in Jersey. The congressman also leads the bipartisan Cut Red Tape Act to eliminate outdated bureaucracy, create jobs, back our small businesses, and accelerate economic growth in New Jersey. 

Gottheimer was joined by Assemblywoman Ellen Park, Assemblywoman Shama Haider,, Bergen County Vice Chairwoman Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio , Glen Rock Councilwoman Paula Guligan, Harrington Park Councilwoman Joon Chung, Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins, , President North New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Carol Rauscher,, Program Director Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship Steve Maiorano, Francy’s Ice Cream Owner Frania Babibre, Samo Financial Owner Alina Trugub, Cafe Metro Owner Bernadine Harrigan, Mortgage Apple Cakes Owner Angela Logan, Ave Lumi Owner Jennifer Jackson, The Fieldhouse Owner Anglea Alberti, Serenity Skincare and Body Wellness Co-Owner Genesis Henson.

Below:  Gottheimer with North Jersey women business owners and leaders.

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