In Richmond, Kamla Harris visits a micro-farming start-up and lauds growth impetus provided

As part of the celebrations for National Small Business Week, Vice President Kamala Harris visited a micro-farming startup (Babylon) in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood on Thursday, May 4, along with other lawmakers Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-4th) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. 

Harris toured parts of Babylon’s 20,000-square-foot facility, which houses an indoor, hydroponic farm, to understand the automated technology used by the start-up company to help institutional customers grow 50 types of vegetables, herbs and flowers for their food service operations, without the use of any pesticides.

The visit can be seen in the light of the Vice President’s attempt to laud the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) of President Joe Biden and Congress in helping small businesses and start-ups grow.

Babylon Micro-farms is a shining example of SSBCI’s success

Harris said that Babylon is just one of the many examples of innovative small businesses that have witnessed growth because of the administration’s policies. She added that because of these investments, America is witnessing a small business boom. She further said that since Congress took office, 10.5 million applications for new businesses have been filed, which are testimony to how federal and state governments can help in the growth of small businesses by providing financial aid.

The farm benefitted from a $150,000 equity investment from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, supported by the SSBCI.

Alexander Olesen, co-founder of the Babylon Micro-Farms said, “The grant funding they’ve provided has allowed us to get where we are today.” He added how indoor farming is also contributing to the cause of sustainability by becoming a tool for food security and fighting against climate change. The farm also uses 90% less water than larger farms. 

The farm works on an innovative technology, using a telecommunication application. It monitors and controls the growing process remotely, and is equipped to adjust the levels of nutrients, water, and temperature when required.

Harris hailed small businesses as the growth drivers of America

Harris said that small businesses, with their strong ambition, fuel the growth of America, and are hence instrumental in driving the growth of the country, creating opportunity for millions of people.

But Republicans criticize the visit citing other bigger national concerns that need attention

Virginia Republicans, however, have criticized her visit, with Republican Party of Virginia Chair Rich Anderson saying that Harris should actually be in Washington, working with Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. There have been discussions over raising the debt ceiling for quite some time now. While the Republicans have voted to increase the national borrowing limit recently, it comes with certain caveats, and includes drastic spending cuts over the next decade, something that the Democrats are not aligned with. 

Outlook

Vice President Kamala Harris leveraged the National Small Business Week celebrations to visit a micro-farming startup in Richmond and hailed it as one of the shining examples of the success of her government’s SSBCI scheme. She also lauded such small businesses as the future growth drivers of America. However, she drew flak from her Republican counterparts for avoiding bigger national concerns at this time when the erupting banking crisis calls for some stronger measures to be taken.