FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SPENT PART OF TODAY IN OUR STATE. WXII 12 KARA PETERS ATTENDED HER EVENT IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM AND BRINGS US THE VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ANNOUNCED $32 MILLION IS COMING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. AND SHE MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WHERE I’M STANDING HERE IN THE HISTORIC BLACK WALL STREET DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM, WHICH TIES INTO THE PURPOSE OF THESE FUNDS. THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN COMING THROUGH THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE. THIS MONEY WILL GO TO TEN WOMEN AND MINORITY LED VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS TO INVEST IN THEIR COMPANIES AND BUILD ON THEIR ENTREPRENEURS SHIP. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY COMPANIES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AI. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN GENERAL. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS JOINED BY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY WALLY ADEYEMO AND GOVERNOR COOPER TO START A BUSINESS, THOUGH, YOU NEED MONEY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE WITH GREAT IDEAS AND A WORK ETHIC WHO, WITH SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENT, CAN START A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS THIS INVESTMENT WILL BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT, TOTALING MORE THAN $90 MILLION TO HELP GROW SMALL, UNDERSERVED BUSINESSES IN THE STATE. IT IS ABOUT MEETING THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY, AND WE ALL BENEFIT. AND THIS IS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION’S INVESTING IN AMERICA TOUR. AND WE CAN’T IGNORE THE FACT THAT THIS COMES JUST DAYS BEFORE SUPER TUESDAY IN DURHAM.