 |
全美亞裔總商會調研發佈會，主講者包括國會議員孟昭文(第一排左起)，Andy
Kim，全美亞裔總商會會長董繼玲等人。 |
全美亞裔總商會調研
更多亞太裔企業面對關門及裁員危機
亞太裔企業需要拜登政府及州政府的立即關注和支援
華盛頓特區 – 今日，全國亞裔總商會(National
ACE)和”全美策略聯盟(PPS)”合作，公佈亞太裔企業在新冠病毒大流行期間經驗的新調查數據。其中重點包括，84%亞太裔企業受到新冠病毒大流行的負面影響，44%已減少雇用員工人數等調查結果的一部分。這調查反映了亞太裔企業要從這人生難得一遇的病毒大流行中恢復，面對著巨大挑戰。
全國亞裔總商會會長暨執行長董繼玲表示，”對小企業來說，要能撐過這場病毒大流行，國會需要確保在因應新冠病毒危機上有健全的長期對策”。”這個困境無法在短期內解決。事實上，我們需要國會和各州政府承諾，要能夠在未來歲月中確保小企業的生存，繁榮。
這調查是從9月28日至11月30日在網上完成的，不僅收集了900家亞太裔企業的數據，也收集非洲裔及西班牙裔企業的數據，以和我們的美國非洲商會，美國西班牙裔商會夥伴分享資訊。這調查共收到8,328份回應，因此成為在新冠病毒大流行影響上，關於亞太裔，非洲裔及西班牙裔企業的最大規模田野調查。
接受調查的亞太裔有壓倒性的大多數人說，他們的企業至今還被新冠病毒大流行打擊得非常嚴重，使得他們不但收入減少，還得裁員。許多亞太裔企業主聲稱，如果沒有財務援助，他們的情況會更糟。
這些調查發現包括:
●
67%亞太裔企業表示，獲得財務援助，或者額外資金是他們未來6個月的第一優先任務。
●
17%亞太裔企業的手頭現金，不足以支撐他們的企業繼續經營一個月
●
23%亞太裔企業預期會在未來6個月中永遠關門。
●
61%亞太裔企業錯過了重要補助，因為他們不認為自己符合申請資格
●
49%亞太裔企業預期會至少裁員1人
●
80%亞太裔企業明說，他們需要贈款形式的援助，而不是經由貸款舉債更多。
亞裔麥當勞經營者協會主席暨全國亞裔總商會政策委員會的現任主席Jimmy Ferguson說，亞太裔，尤其是亞太裔婦女所擁有的企業，在這次危機中受到的打擊很大。國會必須確保這重要的社區獲得生存所需援助，撐過這場病毒大流行，更為強壯”。”人們錯誤的認為，亞太裔在這場病毒大流行中掙扎程度較小，那是不正確的。
關於全國亞裔總商會
全國亞裔總商會的使命是做為亞太裔企業利益的強力支持者，就加強，促進亞太裔企業，創業者，以及企業領袖的目標及抱負等的所有議題，推動積極改變。全國亞裔總商會致力經由支持，宣導影響亞太裔社區的議題，改善亞太裔社區的經濟發展及經濟影響，促進結盟及加強社區建造，培養下一代亞太裔創業家及主管，來達成這使命。全國亞裔總商會在全國為亞太裔的企業利益發出統一聲音。
SURVEY: Largest Survey focused on AAPIs Business Owners
Shows More Businesses
Face Closures and Employee Layoffs
AAPI business owners and their employees need immediate
and long-term help from the Biden Administration and State Governments
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, the National
Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship
(National ACE) and Reimagine Main Street, an initiative of Public Private Strategies
(PPS), released new survey data on the experience of AAPI business
owners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Among its key findings, 84% of Asian
American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) businesses have been negatively impacted
by the Covid-19 pandemic and 44% have decreased the number of people they
employ. This survey reflects the immense challenges that AAPI businesses face
in recovering from a once in a lifetime pandemic. Congresswoman Grace Meng
(NY-06) and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) joined the briefing to provide
comments on the importance of AAPI business owners to the country’s economic
recovery.
“For small businesses to make it to the other side of this
pandemic, Congress needs to ensure there is a robust, long-term response to the
Covid-19 crisis,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “In
addition to our findings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Asian
American women who are jobless have been hit harder than any other group, with
44% having been out of work six months or more. This dilemma cannot be solved
with a short-term perspective. In fact, we need Congress and States to commit
to ensuring that small businesses survive and thrive in the months and years
ahead.”
The
survey, conducted online from September 28 to November 30, collected data on
nearly 900 AAPI business owners – and also Black and Hispanic business owners
in order to share information with our partners at the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The survey resulted in
8,328 respondents, making it the largest survey of AAPI, Black, and Hispanic
business owners fielded on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An
overwhelming majority of surveyed AAPIs said that their businesses have been
hit hard by the pandemic to date, causing lower revenues and job cuts. Many
AAPI business owners have stated that their situation will worsen without
financial assistance. Among the findings:
·
67 percent of AAPI businesses cite obtaining financial assistance
or additional capital is their number one priority in the next six months.
·
17 percent of AAPIs have less than one month of cash on hand to
keep their businesses up and running.
·
23 percent of AAPIs expect to close permanently in the next six
months.
·
61 percent of AAPIs missed out on critical aid because they did
not believe they were eligible.
·
49 percent of AAPI business owners expect to lay off at least one
employee.
·
80 percent of AAPIs specified that they want that assistance in
the form of grants, as opposed to taking on more debt through loans.
“Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
owned businesses have suffered greatly from this crisis, particularly AAPI
women. Congress must ensure that this important community receives the
assistance it needs to survive and come out of the other side of the pandemic
stronger” said Jimmy Ferguson, Chair of the Asian McDonald's Operators
Association and current Policy Committee Chairman for National ACE. “It is wrongly
assumed that AAPI’s are struggling less through the pandemic, which is simply
not true.”
“I applaud National ACE for their work on a national survey to
underscore the challenges AAPI small business owners face,” said Congresswoman
Grace Meng (NY-06). “The survey data paints a bleak picture and underscores
why additional support will be needed. These businesses were hit doubly because
of the pandemic’s economic impact and the vicious anti-Asian hate and
discrimination. Even before the first cases hit my home state of New York, our
AAPI small businesses were victims of racism; they were the canary in the coal
mine as the pandemic ravaged communities across the nation. Small businesses
are the lifeblood of a community, and they need all the help during the Covid-19
relief and recovery. I will continue to fight for relief for AAPI small
business owners.”
“Every small business owner should know that Congress has their
back as we work to recover from the pandemic. That should be especially true of
our AAPI brothers and sisters, and other communities of color, who have been
disproportionately hard hit by this crisis and often lack ready access to the
resources necessary to rebuild. This survey shows us the depth of the crisis;
it’s now up to us in Congress to act with the level of urgency and scale needed,”
said Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03).
# # #
About National ACE
National ACE’s mission is to serve as a
strong advocate of AAPI business interests and effect positive change on all
issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business
owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE strives to do this
through supporting and promoting issues that impact the AAPI business
community, improving the economic development and economic impact of the AAPI
community, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering
the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides
a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally.
