ITHACA, N.Y.-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) appeared at Alternatives Federal Credit Union to congratulate it on its $1.4 million Community Development Financial Institution award. Sen. Clinton expressed particular interest in how the award will allow Alternatives to expand its delivery of support programs for small and micro-business in the community. Before speaking to the community, the senator walked through the Credit Union lobby where 20 small business members had set up displays for her to view. From an organic farmer to a pastry chef and barbequed ribs restaurant owner, each member business had an opportunity to discuss small business with the senator.
"We need anything we can in a globally competitive market like ours, where we are losing so many jobs, and where we need to create good paying jobs to take their place. The biggest engine for that will be small-business growth, so we need to do more, not less, to support small business, and Alternatives is showing us how to do that," she said.
