Jill Biden: “Joe has spent his entire career bringing people together and getting the seemingly impossible done”

Wednesday, Jill Biden hosted a virtual event with Congressman Ron Kind to discuss how to improve Western Wisconsin’s economy for women after President Trump’s failed response to the coronavirus pandemic. At the event, participants discussed how Vice President Biden’s plan to build back the economy will help communities across the state.


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“He’s going to make sure that small businesses, particularly those owned by women and people of color, have the capital, technical assistance, mentorships and support that they need to survive,” said Jill Biden.


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La Crosse Tribune: Local female business owners talk recovery with Jill Biden, Kind in virtual event

In a remote campaign stop Wednesday, former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, to discuss ways to boost rural and Western Wisconsin’s economy.
They were joined by local, female business owners: A cafe owner who has had to go out of her way and find unique supplies to keep her business afloat; a working mom who had to leave her executive position at a nonprofit because of child care; and an art gallery owner who struggled to find relief to keep her employees and artists paid.

“At first I had confidence, if I just did the right things,” said Erin Klaus, owner of Tangled Up in Hue in Eau Claire, “I’d be eligible for help.”

Klaus said that it took six weeks for her art gallery to be able to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to keep her eight-person staff on payroll.

“Obviously it was an immense struggle,” she said, calling it an “incredibly dismal time.”

They eventually received the loan and brought staff back, but Klaus is still worried, as the future remains uncertain on how the virus will continue to impact the economy.

[…]

Biden said she hoped she could offer hope to the businesses owners, and was there to listen.

“Joe has spent his entire career bringing people together and getting the seemingly impossible done,” Biden said of her husband.

“You deserve that kind of leader. No matter how difficult things get, you keep fighting for your communities. And Joe will be beside you fighting all the way, and he’ll keep listening,” she said.
Kind said that there was “no better listener in Washington than Joe Biden,” saying that when his son Johnny was diagnosed with cancer last year, one of the first people who called him was the former vice president, who lost a son to cancer.

Though the virtual event was largely a listening session, the officials plugged some of Biden’s plan to “Build Back Better,” specifically in ways it would help rural and Western Wisconsin.
During Wednesday’s event, Kind and Dr. Biden promoted plans for bigger small-business loans, free community college, expansions to Obamacare, equal pay, farm-to-table markets and child care.

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