DETROIT – Detroit was the second stop on Vice President Kamala Harris’s Economic Opportunity Tour.
She touted the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration, such as student loan and medical debt relief, affordable housing, and increasing capital to underserved communities.
“For anyone carrying debt, we know it is much more difficult than to save for a house to grow a small business, to build intergenerational wealth and it just makes people feel like they can never get ahead,” said Harris.
Speaking at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Harris tried to drum up support among Black voters, support she and the president will need to win Michigan in November.
“She touched on some key topics, key things that are important to us as Michiganders,” said National Council of Negro Women Detroit President Kenyetta Cole.
“I really appreciated the nod to medical debt relief and the nod to the student loan relief,” said Detroit Phoenix Center CEO Courtney Smith.
Another key concern mentioned by attendees was supporting Black entrepreneurship.
“So, when she spoke to the level of access to the entrepreneur, the business owner, and what she was going to do to alleviate some of the debt and the barriers that we are facing in the community, I was excited to hear about that,” said attendee DeAnte Thompkins.
“Being able to have a cash infusion to help our ideas turn into unicorns is everything that Detroit needs,” said APHID Cofounder & CEO Brandon Cooper.
During her remarks, Harris also announced $100 million in funding for small and medium-sized auto parts manufacturers to retool and upgrade their facilities for the EV supply chain.
The Republican National Committee sent a statement responding to Harris’ stop in Michigan.
“From soaring inflation on everyday goods to record-breaking gas prices, to prioritizing EV production over midwest autoworkers, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have failed Michiganders at every turn,” said RNC Spokesperson Rachel Lee.