Today, Acting Secretary Rebecca Blank traveled to Martinsville,
Va., to host a roundtable meeting with local business leaders. The
discussion, part of the Obama Administration’s White House Business Council’s
ongoing Winning the Future roundtable event series, is to better communicate
with America’s business community about the challenges they are facing and turn
that input into concrete action that will improve U.S. economic competitiveness.
The meeting was also an opportunity for businesses to learn about help that is
available from agencies across the federal government.
After the roundtable, she toured the production
facility of AlBaad USA with Gov. Bev Perdue and U.S. Rep. Brad Miller in Reidsville, N.C. AlBaad USA is an Israeli-owned wet wipe and cleaning supply company that has
made a $35 million investment in its U.S. operation, employing nearly 200
people.
After the tour, Blank discussed the importance of strengthening our education,
infrastructure and innovation capacity as ways to rebuild our economic
foundation, create jobs and enhance our global competitiveness. She also
underscored the steps the administration has already taken to achieve these
priorities – from investing in community colleges and funding transportation
projects across the country, to launching the President’s National Export
Initiative and pushing to shorten the time it takes to approve a patent.
Blank also highlighted the significance of foreign direct investment (FDI),
citing AlBaad USA as an example of foreign companies whose investments the U.S.
must attract more of to strengthen economic growth and job creation. With
FDI supporting more than 5 million American jobs, Blank discussed a new
government-wide initiative, housed at Commerce – SelectUSA – which seeks to cut
federal red tape for domestic and foreign investors, remove barriers to new
investment and boost business growth in the United States.
Launched in June, SelectUSA was created by Executive
Order in direct response to concerns the Obama administration has heard
from the business community. In addition to its work removing
federal-level barriers to foreign investment, SelectUSA also brings together
information on federal programs and services available to companies looking to
invest in the United States in one, easy-to-access location, supported by a
comprehensive website at www.SelectUSA.gov.
The website also provides snapshots of the competitive landscape in major U.S.
industries and a direct line to state and local economic development agencies.