Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Acting Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development Rick Siger took a walking tour of Washington. They were here Friday to kick off Pennsylvania’s Small Business Week. A walking tour headed by Main Street Manager of the Washington Business District Authority Shana Brown had Davis and Siger visit the Ignite Business Incubator, The Table Café, The Wild Hope Boutique and The Cheerful Balloon Company. Davis and Siger heard from business owners of how proud they are of their endeavors and the problems that they encounter trying to develop a business in a downtown area like Washington. Carrie Beckett from The Wild Hope Boutique was direct in her conversation with Davis that she and her partners invested a lot of money and hard work to make their place special. She is disappointed that when she looks out her front window, they are greeted with abandoned and dilapidated storefronts. One of the messages that Davis wants business owners to know is that the Shapiro Administration is committed to the success of small businesses. Davis pointed out that in their 2023-2024 budget proposal the administration is calling for a $20 million infusion of capital into the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program that provides working capital loans to women and minority owned businesses. They also call for an $8.6 million increase in the Keystone Communities Program to support improvements along Pennsylvania’s Main Streets. (Photo L to R: Shana Brown, Main Street Business Mgr., acting secretary DCED Rick Siger, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis)