From Disaster Recovery to Success: A Virtual Discussion with Jackie Smith of The Coffee Shoppe in Selma, Alabama

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, is hosting a virtual discussion titled “Sipping on Success: The Story of Selma’s Award-Winning Small Business Owner Jackie Smith” on Monday, April 29th at 3 p.m. CDT to kick off National Small Business Week.

The conversation will feature Ms. Jackie Smith, owner of The Coffee Shoppe in Selma, who will be receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2024 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts in Washington D.C. next week. The event will be live-streamed on Rep. Sewell’s official Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

During the discussion, Ms. Smith will share her journey as an entrepreneur and highlight the challenges she has faced along the way while emphasizing the importance of small businesses in our economy.

National Small Business Week is a celebration organized by the U.S Small Business Administration to recognize the hard work and dedication of American entrepreneurs and small business owners for more than 60 years.

This year’s event takes place from April 28 to May 4th, 2024, honoring their contributions towards economic growth and job creation.

Small businesses play a crucial role in creating jobs and driving economic growth in communities across America.

Upon hearing about this event, Rep Sewell felt it was important to highlight the story of Ms Smith’s success as well as emphasize the significance of small businesses in our society.

Through this virtual discussion, we hope to inspire future entrepreneurs and showcase how resilient small business owners can be during challenging times like disasters or economic downturns.